Last week Carroll Broadcasting reported that the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office had been receiving reports of a scam targeting elderly individuals in which a “supposed” grandchild calls saying they are incarcerated and need bail money. The Sac County Sheriff’s Office also received two complaints last week of the same scam being perpetrated in Sac County. The caller instructed them to purchase gift cards and to call them back with the pin numbers. The money on the card, they said, would be used for bond. The Sac County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind everyone that Jails and Clerks of Court anywhere in the state of Iowa will not accept gift cards as bond money. This is a scam and should be treated as such. If you receive this type of call, contact your local law enforcement agency and they can find out if your loved one is actually in jail or not.
