Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell reminds everyone to beware of people who would defraud them of their hard-earned money.
The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office has recently received multiple reports from citizens involving a bonding scam. Relatives of individuals incarcerated in the Forsyth County Jail are being contacted by supposed bonding companies offering to facilitate bonding out their loved ones.
The victims are usually directed to send payment, usually via Zelle, Venmo, or PayPal. The payments are normally in line with the percentages charged by legitimate, approved bonding companies. Once payment is sent, the victims arrive at the jail and are notified of the theft.
“If anyone asks you for money in advance, that should tell you to beware – especially when one of the mentioned payment methods is involved,” Terrell says.
If you receive such a call, hang up the phone and call the sheriff’s office directly.
Anyone who has been contacted by a purported bonding company asking for payment by one of the above methods should contact their local sheriff’s office.
