BRYAN COUNTY, OK — The Bryan County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a phone scam aimed at people connected to inmates in the county jail. Callers are telling victims they must pay for an ankle monitor for a friend or loved one in custody.
Deputies say the calls are fake and are being used to try to steal money or personal information. The sheriff’s office says it would not contact anyone by phone to request payment for something like that.
Officials are telling anyone who receives one of the calls to hang up right away. The warning is meant to keep families from handing over cash or private details to someone pretending to be tied to the jail.
How the scam is being pitched to victims
The scam relies on urgency and confusion. According to the sheriff’s office, the caller claims a friend or relative in custody needs an ankle monitor, then asks for payment to handle the supposed issue.
That kind of pitch is designed to pressure people before they have time to check whether the request is real. The sheriff’s office says the goal appears to be getting either money or personal information from the person who answers.
County officials did not say how many people have been contacted or whether anyone has already lost money. What they stressed is that the call itself is not legitimate and should not be trusted.
Sheriff’s office says it would not make this kind of call
Deputies say the warning is simple: the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office would not call someone out of the blue asking for payment tied to an inmate’s ankle monitor. That is the key reason they are urging people to stop the call as soon as it starts sounding suspicious.
Scams like this often work because they borrow the language of official business. By mentioning jail custody, an ankle monitor, and a loved one’s name or situation, the caller can sound credible enough to catch someone off guard.
Officials did not provide any additional details about the caller’s identity or where the calls are coming from. For now, they are focusing on making sure residents know the request is fraudulent.
Why jail-related scams can catch families off guard
Calls that mention an inmate can be especially effective because they target people who may already be worried, hurried, or embarrassed. A relative may feel pressure to act fast if they believe a loved one’s release or jail conditions are at stake.
That emotional pressure is part of what makes the scheme dangerous. Even a brief conversation can be enough for a scammer to collect money or gather personal details that can be used for other fraud.
The Bryan County warning fits a broader pattern of phone scams that impersonate authorities or claim to be handling urgent fees. In this case, the message is centered on a fake payment request tied to incarceration.
What residents should do if they get the call
The sheriff’s office says the safest response is to hang up immediately. Residents should not share banking information, personal identifying details, or any payment information with the caller.
If a family member is actually in custody and someone says a fee is required, officials advise verifying the information directly through legitimate channels rather than trusting the incoming call. The warning is meant to prevent people from acting before they can confirm the story.
People who think they may have been targeted should treat the call as a scam and avoid engaging further. The sheriff’s office’s message is that the fraudulent request should end as soon as the phone is answered.
A reminder to stay cautious with any unexpected payment request
The county’s alert is also a reminder that unexpected calls demanding money should be treated carefully, especially when they involve urgency, fear, or a supposed official need. Scammers often count on the fact that people will react before they verify the details.
In this case, the requested payment is tied to an ankle monitor for someone in custody, but officials say the premise itself is false. That makes the warning straightforward: do not trust the caller, and do not send money.
The Bryan County Sheriff’s Office continues to urge residents to be skeptical of any unsolicited call that asks for personal information or payment. A quick hang-up can be the easiest way to avoid becoming a victim.
