The Jefferson County Prosecutor’s Office today issued a strong public alert about a growing scam in which fraudsters are contacting the friends and family members of individuals currently held in the Jefferson County Jail. The scammers falsely claim they can secure the inmate’s immediate release or transfer to a treatment center in exchange for payment.
According to the press release issued by the Prosecutor’s Office, these calls are always scams. No employee of law enforcement, the Prosecutor’s Office, the Jefferson County Jail, or the courts will ever contact a family member or friend by phone, text, email, or any other method and demand money for an inmate’s release, bail, fines, or transfer to any program. Legitimate agencies follow strict legal procedures and never request immediate payment over the phone.
Scammers typically use spoofed phone numbers that appear to come from the jail or court system. They create urgency by claiming the inmate is in immediate danger, needs medical care, or will be released only after a “processing fee,” “bond payment,” or “treatment placement fee” is paid via wire transfer, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or prepaid debit cards. Once the money is sent, it is gone forever and cannot be recovered.
Scammers may use stolen details to hack existing bank accounts, open new credit cards or loans in the victim’s name, file fraudulent tax returns, or commit other forms of identity theft. This often results in damaged credit scores, months or years of collection calls, denied loans, and significant legal and financial costs to repair the harm.
What to do if you receive one of these calls:
• Do not engage with the caller.
• Do not send any money or provide personal, banking, or identification information.
• Hang up immediately.
• Report the incident to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and/or the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• If you have already sent money or shared information, contact your bank or financial institution right away and file a police report.
If you can’t tell whether the call is real or a scam, call Jefferson Associated Counsel and ask to speak to a public defender: 360-385-5613.
If you are contacted by real law enforcement, such as the Port Townsend Police Department or the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and aren’t sure what to do, check out our Know Your Rights page, and remember, you have the right to remain silent and to ask for an attorney!
Jefferson Associated Counsel 