GARNER — A Northern Iowa sheriff’s office is warning residents about a new scam in which crooks allegedly pose as people who can help get a loved one out of jail, then demand money through Bitcoin.
The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says the scheme has been dubbed the “ankle monitor scam.”
According to the warning, scammers contact people and claim they can arrange for an incarcerated family member to be released from jail and placed on an electronic ankle monitor.
The catch comes next.
The caller allegedly tells the family that a deposit must first be paid through a Bitcoin link or Bitcoin ATM. Victims may then be instructed to send a barcode or proof of the transaction through a text message or app.
After the initial phone call, potential victims may receive follow-up texts or emails designed to make the arrangement appear legitimate.
The scammers allegedly tell families that the entire process is handled electronically and that once the bond or payment is completed, they will be notified when their loved one can be picked up.
Hancock County authorities say that is not how the jail operates.
The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office does not have an ankle-monitor release program and does not call relatives of inmates asking them to pay a fee to secure someone’s release.
The use of Bitcoin is another major warning sign.
Cryptocurrency payments can be difficult or impossible to reverse once they are sent, making Bitcoin ATMs and electronic transfers attractive tools for scammers attempting to pressure victims into moving money quickly before they have time to verify the story.
Families receiving a call involving an inmate, bond payment or supposed electronic-monitoring program should not rely on the phone number, text message or payment instructions provided by the caller.
Instead, residents should independently contact the jail or sheriff’s office through an official telephone number before sending any money or personal information.
Scammers frequently create a sense of urgency by claiming a relative is in immediate trouble or can be released only if payment is made quickly. Authorities repeatedly warn that pressure to act immediately, secrecy demands and requests for cryptocurrency, gift cards or unusual electronic payments are common signs of fraud.
Anyone receiving a suspicious call claiming to involve the Hancock County Jail should end the call and verify the situation directly with law enforcement.
The sheriff’s office is urging residents to spread the warning, particularly to family members who may be more vulnerable to high-pressure scams.