The Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office has issued a warning to the public about a new wave of phone scams preying on residents' fears for their incarcerated loved ones. According to the Sheriff's Office, these scammers falsely claim to represent the OPSO and ask for funds via peer-to-peer payment apps to supposedly cover costs for bonding out or ankle monitoring services.
In a clear statement aimed to both educate and prevent further victimization, the Sheriff's Office underscored that it "does NOT run an ankle monitoring or bonding program and will NEVER request payments via CashApp, Zelle, gift cards or other peer-to-peer apps." This alert comes amidst a rise in scams where perpetrators appear to effortlessly adopt the guise of authority to exploit trust and urgently demand money. To combat potential fraud, the OPSO encourages people to immediately disregard such fraudulent calls and to instead use Access Corrections, or visit their official website, for secure transaction options if there's indeed a need to send money.
The alert, published prominently through the Sheriff's Office social media channels, serves to swiftly inform as vast an audience as possible, leveraging the widespread reach of online platforms. The Office has also included a direct link to their official website, providing residents with a reference point for authentic, safe financial transactions.
Residents who have received such calls are encouraged to report them to the OPSO to help aid ongoing investigations. These reports are crucial in tracing these deceptive calls back to their source and potentially bringing scammers to justice.
