Families of incarcerated people are being targeted by callers posing as security supervisors with the Anne Arundel County Department of Detention Facilities, Jennifer Road Detention Center or Ordnance Road Correctional Center to offer early release, bail or ankle monitors for a fee (typically $1,500).
In this scam, family members receive a phone call informing them that their loved one is incarcerated but can be released early if they pay a fee to the Jennifer Road Detention Center. The fee covers the cost to fit the incarcerated individual with an ankle monitor. The caller may explain that this offer is due to jail overcrowding or overwhelmed courts. The caller may ask you to “confirm” personal or financial information. These callers identify themselves by name and rank and may even provide a call back phone number. These scammers use public inmate records to find and contact you. This offer is not real.
The Anne Arundel County Department of Detention Facilities will never ask for payment via gift cards, apps (Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, etc.) or cryptocurrency and will never demand payment over the phone.
How to Protect Yourself
- Hang Up and Verify: Do not trust caller ID. Hang up and call the facility directly at 410-222-7374 or 410-222-4900.
- Never Pay Over the Phone: The Anne Arundel County Department of Detention Facilities will not ask for payment via phone, especially not using gift cards or payment apps.
- Do Not Share Info: Never provide personal, financial or sensitive information to unsolicited callers.
How to Report the Scam
- Local Law Enforcement: Contact your local police department to file a report.
- Maryland Office of the Attorney General: Report incident to the Consumer Protection Division email: consumer@oag.maryland.gov or Consumer Hotline: 410-528-8662
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Report at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/