The Madison County Sheriff’s Office is warning the public about a recent scam targeting family members of individuals who have been arrested.

What Happened:

In a recent case, after a person was booked into the Madison County Jail, a family member was contacted by a scammer. The caller claimed the arrested person could be released on bond for less than the listed bond amount if placed on an ankle monitoring system. The family member was instructed to send payment via the Cash App platform — which they did — only to discover it was a scam.

Important Facts:

• The Sheriff’s Office will never solicit bond money over the phone.
• The Sheriff’s Office will never accept bond payments via Cash App, Venmo, PayPal, or any other electronic transfer app.
• Bonds can only be posted in person at the Madison County Jail or other designated bond location, and must be paid with cash.

What You Should Do:

• If you receive a call like this, hang up immediately and verify the information by contacting the Sheriff’s Office directly at 402-454-2110.
• Never send money electronically to anyone claiming to be from law enforcement.
• Report any suspicious calls to our office so we can investigate.

Stay alert. Protect yourself. Spread the word.