Message from Sheriff Joe Kennedy Regarding a Current Scam

There is a current scam in which scammers are obtaining information about arrested persons, likely using scraper bots, and monitoring our P2C recent arrests. The scammers then demand bond money from the arrested person’s family and coercing them to wire money into pass-through accounts. Please pass the word, the Sheriff’s Office will never call you and demand bond money for inmates. Also, bonds paid at the Dubuque County Jail are only accepted in person and as cash. Bond may also be paid in person at the Dubuque County Courthouse. Anyone asking you to send money or gift card information anywhere else is attempting to scam you. We do not accept gift cards, checks, bitcoin, etc., as forms of payment.

Also, when you are at a place of business initiating one of these transactions and an employee of that business informs you that you are being scammed, please listen to them. Although these occurrences may be new to you, the employees of these businesses are seeing this happen to people daily and have a good idea of the signs that these crimes are occurring. Thanks, and stay safe.