May 18, 2026 – Calaveras County Sheriff's Office officials are warning the public about an ongoing scam in which individuals are contacting family members of recently arrested subjects and falsely claiming that money is needed to secure an early release from custody through the use of an electronic ankle monitor.
In these cases, the caller poses as someone associated with the jail or law enforcement and instructs family members to send money, sometimes requesting amounts exceeding $4,000 to pay for the supposed release process. These claims are fraudulent.
The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office wants to make it clear that the Sheriff’s Office and County Jail do not proactively contact family members or members of the public by phone to request money or payment information for an inmate’s release, electronic monitoring, or any other custody-related service.
Members of the public are urged to be cautious if they receive unsolicited calls involving a recently arrested family member. Scammers may use personal details or information obtained from publicly available booking information to make their story appear legitimate.
If you receive a call of this nature:
- Do not send money or provide payment information over the phone.
- Do not share personal or banking information.
- Hang up immediately.
- Contact the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office directly through official channels to verify any claims.
- Contact Dispatch at 209-754-6500 and ask to be transferred to the jail.
Anyone who believes they may have been targeted by this scam, or who has already sent money, is encouraged to report the incident to us as soon as possible.
The Sheriff’s Office remains committed to protecting the community and encourages residents to share this information with family and friends to help prevent others from becoming victims.
Source: Calaveras County Sheriff's Office
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