ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — A disturbing scam is growing at the St. Johns County Jail, with inmates posing as bail bond agents and scamming unsuspecting families out of thousands of dollars. In response to the rise in fraud, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office has temporarily disabled its online inmate roster to protect the public.
The scam typically involves inmates using access to online inmate search tools to find mug shots and arrest records. They then contact the families of incarcerated individuals, claiming to be bail bondsmen and convince them to send money to secure a loved one’s release.
One victim, a woman from Saint Augustine, shared her experience with Action News Jax. She was scammed out of $1,000 after a man named “Tyler Johnson” contacted her, claiming to be a bail bondsman who could help get her husband out of jail.
“I sent him $1,000,” the woman said. “And he asked me for $1,000.”
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It wasn’t until later that the woman learned “Tyler Johnson” wasn’t a bail bondsman at all—but an inmate serving time in an Alabama prison. The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the fraudster was behind bars when he made the call.
This scam is not isolated to St. Johns County. Inmates across the country, including in Alabama, have been using similar tactics to trick families into paying large sums of money. Many of these inmates have access to the internet or jail records, which they use to exploit the desperation of families trying to help their loved ones.
John Viola, a Florida bail bondsman with over 30 years of experience, says the scam is becoming more prevalent. Viola recently encountered a man who walked into his office with $12,000 in cash to bail out his grandson. The man said the scammer had convinced him that the cost of bail was $12,000.
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“He said, ‘You told me $12,000,’ so the scammer was impersonating me,” said Viola. He added that he is aware of multiple similar cases across Florida.
Viola urges families to be cautious and always verify the identity of anyone contacting them about bail.
“Be cognizant that there is a scam going on. It’s been a long-running scam for at least two years. Don’t be vulnerable just because my loved one is in jail,” he warned.
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For the woman from Saint Augustine, she was unable to recover the $1,000 she lost. “I would have never responded to this guy unless he had access to my husband’s police report and mug shot,” she said, reflecting on the painful lesson.
To combat the growing fraud, the St. Johns County Jail has temporarily disabled its online inmate search tool. At this time, it is unclear when the tool will be reactivated.
Authorities are urging anyone who believes they may have fallen victim to a similar scam to contact the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office immediately. Families are also advised to verify any bail bond information directly with trusted local bail agents to avoid falling prey to these fraudulent schemes.
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