Families already rattled by a loved one’s arrest are getting a second shock: phone calls from people claiming to be Cuyahoga County deputies who say they can spring someone from jail the same night, if the family pays up for an ankle monitor.
The callers lean hard on urgency, demanding quick payment for electronic monitoring or an "ankle monitor" and insisting the person in custody can be released almost immediately. Local officials say the scam artists are combing public booking details to make their stories sound legit, which leaves anxious relatives especially vulnerable.
What officials are seeing
Sheriff Harold Pretel told News 5 Cleveland that scammers are using the sheriff’s office app to look up names and charges, then calling relatives with made-up release options tailored to those details. He said the pitch often sounds something like, "If you send money, we can get him released on an ankle monitor by 10:00 p.m.," and that well-intentioned family members sometimes take the bait.
Pretel said the sheriff’s app has since been updated to include a clear warning that real deputies will not contact you directly or ask for money.
How the scam works
Typically, the calls come just hours after someone has been booked into the Cuyahoga County Jail. The scammer claims the person can go home on electronic monitoring if a fee is paid right away, then directs relatives to pay through gift cards, peer-to-peer apps, or other hard-to-reverse methods.
One family member told Spectrum News she was told to head to a drugstore and buy a $400 card to cover a supposed "GPS monitoring" fee. Industry representatives have warned that callers may use easily available booking information and even AI voice tools to make the calls sound more convincing.
Sheriff's app and county response
The sheriff's office recently rolled out a mobile app for Android and iOS that posts recent bookings and public-safety updates. The Google Play listing shows the Cuyahoga County Sheriff app was updated earlier this year.
According to News 5 Cleveland, the app now includes language warning residents that deputies will not call to request money. County leaders say the goal of the app is transparency about who is in custody and why, not giving scammers a new way to target frantic families.
What to do if you get a call
If you get a call that sounds even slightly off, officials say to hang up and verify everything through official channels. The sheriff’s office main line is 216-443-6000, and the Cuyahoga County Scam Squad can be reached at 216-443-7226.
The county's consumer-affairs page notes that deputies will never demand payment by gift card or ask you to scan a QR code, and it urges residents to report suspicious calls so investigators have a chance to chase down leads. If you have already sent money, keep all receipts, contact your bank or payment app right away, and file a report with local law enforcement.
Scammers using similar "phony deputy" pitches have also popped up elsewhere in Ohio. Wayne County officials recently flagged the same high-pressure tactics and quick-payment demands; phony deputies shake down Wayne County covered one such alert. For step-by-step guidance on documenting calls and reporting government-impersonation scams, the Federal Trade Commission offers tips and complaint portals that can help investigators track where the money went.
