06/03/2026
🚨 SCAM ALERT 🚨
If you receive a call that sounds something like this:
📞 "Are you aware your son has been booked into the Bay County Jail?"
📞 "I work with BCSO in Bonds and Booking."
📞 "Special arrangements have been made for his release, but you need to pay a $1,500 bond through an FDIC platform right now."
📞 "This is a one-time offer. If you don't act immediately, he may have to stay in jail for months."
..it's a SCAM.
The scammer may claim to work for the Bay County Sheriff's Office, Bonds and Booking, or even the Clerk of Court. They may sound professional, have personal information, and try to pressure you into making an immediate payment.
Here's what you need to know:
❌ The Bay County Sheriff's Office will never call you demanding payment for someone's release from jail.
❌ We will never instruct you to send money through an online platform, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or any other electronic payment method over the phone.
❌ Scammers create a sense of urgency to keep you from thinking clearly or verifying their story.
✅ If you receive a call like this, hang up immediately.
✅ Contact the Bay County Sheriff's Office directly using a trusted phone number if you have concerns about a loved one.
✅ Report the scam so we can help warn others.
Remember: if someone is demanding money right now and claiming they're doing you a "special favor," there's a very good chance the only thing getting booked is your bank account.
Please share this post to help protect your friends, family, and neighbors from becoming victims
