Scammers are calling families of people recently booked into the Franklin County Jail, pretending to be law enforcement and demanding payment to free their loved ones.

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office (FCSO) published a scam alert on Oct. 28 warning the public about the scheme. The callers falsely claim they can arrange a jailed person's release through a diversion program, probation or electronic monitoring such as an ankle bracelet, according to the alert.

The catch: they want payment right away, usually in gift cards, prepaid debit cards or wire transfers.

The scammers impersonate Sheriff's Office employees, court officials and other government representatives, the alert states. They pull details from publicly available arrest records and online court filings to make their pitch sound real.

FCSO said the callers pressure victims to act fast, creating a sense of urgency and fear. In some cases, they also try to collect bank account or credit card numbers.

How to spot it

The Sheriff's Office listed several red flags:

  • Government agencies will never call to request payment in exchange for someone's release from jail.
  • Legitimate fines, bonds or fees are handled through official channels and are never collected via gift cards or unsolicited phone calls.
  • Requests for secrecy, urgency or unusual payment methods are strong indicators of a scam.

Earlier reports and a local incident

The FCSO receives about three to five scam-related calls each day from people who suspect someone tried to defraud them, according to the agency's scams safety page. The office reported 25 scam cases in 2024 across all types of scams. By the end of November 2025, that number had already climbed to 40.

This type of scam is not new to the Dublin area. At the Washington Township Board of Trustees meeting on Jan. 13, Deputy Burton Haren reported a Dec. 17, 2025, incident in which a resident received a call from someone claiming to be an FCSO sergeant in the corrections division. The caller requested a money transfer through the Chime app to secure a family member's release. The resident sent the funds but contacted the Sheriff's Office and canceled the transfer before it went through, according to the meeting minutes.

What to do

Anyone who receives one of these calls should hang up immediately, the Sheriff's Office said. Do not provide money or personal information. Verify a loved one's status by calling the jail or court directly using official phone numbers.

Residents can report suspected scams to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office at (614) 525-3333 or file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.