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Betrayed by Bargains: Bail Bond Scam Leaves Families Hundreds Out of Pocket


Monday, June 30, 2025

Posted by: NABA

When desperation strikes at Wayne County’s Criminal Justice Center, families seeking to free loved ones on bail may fall prey to a growing scam that dangles impossibly low fees—and vanishes with the cash. In recent weeks, multiple households have reported losing hundreds of dollars after responding to unsolicited calls from fake “bail bondsmen” claiming affiliation with Wayne County Bail Bonds.


Erica Grimes learned the hard way when her fiancé, Joseph Jackson, was booked for unpaid child support on a $20,000 bond. Desperate to post the 10 percent fee of $2,000, she and her family jumped at an offer from a caller calling himself “Alex.” He promised to secure Jackson’s release for only $200—half the price he’d later demand in cryptocurrency. Trusting the purported bondsman’s assurances and what appeared to be a legitimate receipt, Grimes followed instructions to wire two $200 payments via a Bitcoin ATM in a local vape shop. When she arrived to pick up Jackson, jail staff had no record of any bond posted—and the scammer had disappeared with her money.

Baited with Bargain Bonds: Recognizing Scam Red Flags

Wayne County Bail Bonds owner Glen Gay warns that the phony agents are crafting convincing invoices and even mimicking background noise from inside jails to bolster their ruse. “They’re exploiting open streams of arraignments on YouTube or the county inmate lookup to harvest names,” Gay explained. Once they identify targets, scammers make the first move—cold-calling frantic relatives with too-good-to-be-true discounts.


Gay stresses three key warning signs:

  1. Unsolicited Contact: Legitimate bail bondsmen rarely initiate outreach. You must call them.
  2. Deep Discounts: No bona fide agency offers rates below the statutory 10 percent of total bond.
  3. Cryptocurrency Demands: Reputable agents accept cash or credit; they do not require Bitcoin transfers.


“Always verify by searching their business name online and calling the phone number listed on their official website,” Gay advised.

Community Response and Prevention Measures

Local authorities echo Gay’s guidance. Wayne County Sheriff’s Office communications director Mara MacDonald urges families to consult the county’s defined bail process at sheriffconnect.com before engaging any bondsman. “Be very skeptical of anyone calling out of the blue offering discounted services,” MacDonald said, noting that while no complaints had yet reached the sheriff’s office, vigilance is critical.


Victims are encouraged to report fraudulent activity to the Sheriff’s Office or local police and to file a complaint with the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services, which regulates bail bond operations. Consumer protection groups recommend documenting every call, receipt, or instruction from suspects and refraining from sharing personal information until an agent’s credentials are confirmed.


As the scam proliferates, community organizations are planning “Know Your Rights” workshops to educate residents on lawful bail procedures and how to distinguish legitimate bondsmen. These sessions will cover topics such as reading bail paperwork, verifying agency licensing, and understanding the nonrefundable nature of bail bond premiums.


For now, families like the Grimeses are left to recover from emotional and financial trauma. Erica Grimes has urged others to learn from her mistake: “When you’re under that kind of stress, you’ll grab at any help—but you have to stop, breathe, and check the facts.” In the fight against fraud, she adds, “Knowledge is the only bail that can really set you free.”