A new scam targeting families of defendants has been identified by The Judicial Branch of Arizona. According to officials, scammers are contacting family members by phone and text, pretending to be court or law enforcement representatives. They instruct victims to pay fraudulent bonds through electronic payment platforms such as Zelle.
So far, three cases have been confirmed with losses ranging from $300 to $1,750. Authorities believe there may be additional victims, as the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) has also reported similar incidents.
Commissioner Ashley Rahaman described the situation: “A defendant’s family member recently approached me during an arraignment and shared what happened. I’ve had defendants on my Not Guilty Arraignment, Early Disposition Court and Bond Forfeiture calendars come forward. The calls and texts come from different numbers and promise a release from incarceration and/or the purchase of electronic monitoring equipment.”
Officials emphasize that neither the Court nor MCSO will ever request bond payments by phone, text message, or any form of electronic payment. Criminal Court Administrator Nicole Garcia stated: “Bonds can only be posted in person with MCSO. If you receive one of these phone calls, immediately hang up and do not engage in the conversation. Also, never give the caller any personal information.”
Those who wish to verify the legitimacy of a call can contact the Criminal Information Desk at 602-506-8575 or MCSO Sheriff’s Information Management Services (SIMS) at 602-876-0322.
Payments for bonds and fines must be made in person at the Fourth Avenue Jail Bond and Fine Room located at 201 S. 4th Avenue in Phoenix. Once a bond is paid, it may take up to 24 hours for an inmate’s release to be processed.
Bonds serve as a guarantee that defendants will appear at future court hearings. If they fail to appear as required, courts may forfeit posted bonds.
For more information about criminal bonds or related questions, individuals are encouraged to visit https://superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/criminal-bonds
