Grandparents received a call Wednesday from someone posing as a public defender informing them their grandson had been arrested and offering a bonding company in New Jersey to gain his release.
After they couldn’t reach their grandson, the grandparents called Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh who dialed the number they gave him.
When he identified himself as the sheriff, the man hung up.
“It’s a scam,” Fitzhugh said. “I want citizens to know law enforcement officers and the judicial system do not call families to bond people out of jail.”
The original caller told the grandparents he was from Oklahoma City, Okla., and reported their grandson was injured in a crash and arrested for drunk driving.
They were instructed to call a bonding company in New Jersey to gain release.
Fitzhugh advised citizens to simply hang up to prevent getting taken by scammers.