Caller Claims Daughter Is In Jail, Steals $6,275 From Victim

SMITHFIELD, N.C. — A Smithfield woman lost more than $6,200 after falling victim to a scam involving a caller who falsely claimed her daughter had been arrested and needed money for bail.

According to a Smithfield Police, the 67-year-old victim received a phone call from a person posing as a bail bondsman. The caller told the woman her daughter was being held in the Chatham County Jail and needed money to secure her release.

Believing the call was legitimate, the victim sent $3,137.95 to the scammer. A short time later, the caller contacted her again and requested an additional $3,137.95.

The woman agreed to send the second payment before eventually realizing she was not speaking with a legitimate bail bonds agent.

In total, the victim lost $6,275.90.

Law enforcement agencies across North Carolina and the nation have reported similar scams in recent years. Criminals often target victims by claiming a family member has been arrested, injured, or is facing an emergency situation and needs money immediately. The scams frequently rely on creating panic and urgency to prevent victims from verifying the story.

Police recommend residents take several precautions before sending money:

• Always contact the family member directly or through another trusted relative to verify the emergency.

• Never send money based solely on a phone call, text message, or email from someone claiming to be a bondsman, attorney, or law enforcement officer.

• Be suspicious of anyone demanding immediate payment, especially through gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or electronic payment apps.

The incident remains under investigation by the Smithfield Police Department.