The Sanilac County Sheriff’s Office has recently learned of a scam targeting family members of individuals lodged in local jails.
Scammers are using information from online inmate lookup systems to identify inmates and then contact their family members. They falsely claim that a bond can be posted through them to secure the inmate’s release. Law enforcement stresses that this is NOT legitimate.
The Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that this has recently occurred here in Sanilac County, and are issuing several public reminders. They remind the community that the Sheriff’s Office, or any law enforcement agency, will never contact you to request payment for a bond over the phone, text, or social media.
Furthermore, bonds are handled through official court or jail procedures — not through third parties reaching out to you. In general though, the Sheriff’s Office warns to not send money, provide personal information, or click on any links from unknown individuals claiming to help.
To protect yourself, always verify information directly with the jail, court or organization before taking any action. If you receive a suspicious call or message, hang up and contact the Sheriff’s Office directly. The Sheriff’s Office also asks for area residents to talk to family members about this scam so they are aware.
If you believe you have been contacted or targeted, please report it to the Sanilac County Sheriff’s Office, either via their phone app or by calling (810) 648-2000.
