Families warned after bail bond scam costs local family thousands

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - A growing scam targeting families desperate to secure the release of loved ones from jail is prompting a WBRC On Your Side Safety Check across Jefferson County.

Scammers are posing as legitimate bail bondsmen, reaching out through official-looking channels and offering what appears to be a fast and affordable way out of jail. Investigators say the scheme relies on urgency, fear and a lack of familiarity with how the bail process works.

One local woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said her family lost thousands of dollars after she was arrested in March 2025 on a charge of possession of a controlled substance. While she was being held in the Jefferson County Jail, she said someone claiming to be a bail bondsman contacted her through the jail’s messaging system.

The woman said the person offered to bond her out for $600 on what was supposed to be a $30,000 bond. She said the name and contact information appeared to match a listing on the jail’s approved bail bondsmen list, which made the offer seem legitimate.

After agreeing, she connected the person with her daughter outside the jail. Her daughter sent the money using a payment app. Soon after, the alleged bondsman asked for another $200, claiming it was required for an ankle monitor. Not knowing that bail bondsmen are not involved in that process, her daughter sent the additional money.

The family later arranged to meet the bondsman at the jail, but no one ever showed up.

The woman said the scam forced her family into financial desperation. “They paid him and then I had to pay the people back who gave my kids the money to get me out. Then I had to pay another bail bondsman to get me out. So my daughter and them, they went to pawning their TVs, the titles to their cars just to get me out,” she said.

She said the money was sent before she had a chance to question whether the situation made sense.

“Before I could tell my daughter not to send any money yet–let me investigate because I never heard of that, she had already sent him the money. He never came, I called the number, it was cut off. My daughter called, he had blocked her number,” she said.

The woman said her family lost about $2,000. Her criminal case was eventually dismissed.

WBRC also spoke with a bail bond agent who warned that similar scams are becoming more common. Experts say families should always verify who they are dealing with by meeting bail bondsmen in person, either at the jail or at their office, and by asking to see proper identification and a badge number. They also advise avoiding payment apps and unsolicited messages, especially those that pressure families to act quickly.

More tips on how to avoid bail bond scams are available by clicking here.

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