Local law enforcement is warning the public of scammers who are seeking bail funds from people who have loved ones incarcerated in Whatcom County Jail.
In a Feb. 26 social media post, a spokesperson for the Lummi Police Department wrote scammers have been monitoring the public jail roster and will reach out to family and friends of someone being held in jail, posing as law enforcement or a corrections deputy attempting to get bail for the inmate.
Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Deb Slater said she’s also seen the scammers claim to be with a pretrial nonprofit service working with the court.
Slater said the scammers ask questions disguised as trying to determine eligibility for diversion or assistance, before saying bail money is needed for release.
Lummi PD said it didn’t know how the scammers were finding cell phone numbers.
If someone receives a call from another person seeking bail funds, Lummi PD said no money should be given, and the recipient should call their local law enforcement agency.
