Scam targets inmates families on The Murfreesboro Post

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Scam targets inmates families

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By: Lisa Marchesoni

Posted: Wednesday, February 3, 2010 1:52 pm

Parents of jail inmates who receive a call about treatment and early release should beware, a sheriff’s supervisor said.

“It’s a scam,” said Detective Capt. Preble Acton who checked out a complaint from a parent.

A mother received a call asking her to pay $700 now and the remaining $700 later for her child to get treatment for alcohol and drugs and ultimately, an early release. The mother didn’t bite at the scam.

“She listened to her instincts” and called the sheriff’s office to inquire about the reliability of the program. Through research, Acton found a scam warning from the Johnson County, Arkansas sheriff’s office targeting families of inmates incarcerated in prisons and county jail.

A caller posing as an employee of the state Department of Correction or Davidson Treatment Center called families offering enrollment in a treatment program for $1,450 and early release.

“This is a scam, designed to defraud inmates and their families based upon a false hope of early release,” The Johnson County Web site stated.

Acton suspected the scammers used public records to obtain the names of inmates and their families and started calling families.

Families should know any types of treatment will be worked out through the court system, not a phone call, she said.

“The courts would have to agree and contract with a treatment facility supported by the courts and state,” Acton said. “Don’t give money for nothing.”

Parents who do receive such a call should not send any money or give any personal information out over the telephone.

Tagged under families, inmates, Scams

Member Opinions:

By: truthandjustice1 on 2/3/10
Thank you for the information Sheriff's Office, I have no friends or kin in the jail but, find it nice that someone takes time to make this effort to inform.

By: OlDave on 2/4/10
It's sad enough that families have to deal with all that's involved when a family member is convicted of a crime without the added burden of these "Scum Bags"