Press Release: New Scam Targets Families Of Persons Incarcerated At Monterey County Jail
DATE/TIME: 5/11/2026 at 9:00 AM
TYPE OF INCIDENT: Monterey County Sheriff Issues Warning Regarding New Fraud Scheme Targeting Families of Currently Incarcerated Persons at Monterey County Jail
LOCATION: 1410 Natividad Road, Salinas, California
MEDIA CONTACT: Andres Rosas, Commander; Phone: 831-261-5492; Email: rosasae@countyofmonterey.gov
Monterey County Sheriff’s Office is putting out an alert to family and friends of people that are currently incarcerated at the Monterey County Jail.
Sheriff Tina Nieto stated, “Our agency has been made aware that family members of persons who are currently incarcerated at the Monterey County Jail are receiving phone calls from persons identifying themselves as employees of the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.”
The sheriff stated that on multiple occasions, family members of incarcerated persons received a call from a person stating that due to “overpopulation at the jail,” incarcerated individuals were being offered release options that include $1,200 bail with an ankle bracelet followed by weekly payments of $200 or a flat $1,800 payment for release with a watch monitoring device. The caller tells the potential victim that the jail kiosk set up to make payments at the jail is out of service and that payment needs to be made at a local pharmacy or other retail establishment.
Sheriff Tina Nieto stated, “The Monterey County Jail does not have an early release program, and we will never request payment of any type to be made at local retail stores for any reason. It is likely that scammers are looking at the public jail log which contains the names of people incarcerated at our jail and are then targeting family members in an attempt to steal their money.”
This message is being put out to alert the community of this new scam. Sheriff Nieto added, “It is important that we alert families of those who have loved ones in our jail so that they do not fall victim to this new scam. It is especially important that we let our more vulnerable and senior family members know so that they do not get taken advantage of by these individuals who are attempting to steal their money.”
We have not been made aware of anyone that has lost any money at this time, but we are certain that numerous attempts are being made by these scammers. We thank those who have taken the time to report this information to our office.
If you receive a call and are ever in doubt about the legitimacy of that call, please hang up and contact Monterey County Jail directly at 831-755-3700.