The Portage Police Department is warning residents about a phone scam involving claims that bail must be paid for someone they know who is in jail.
The department said it has received several recent calls about the scam. In a Facebook post cited by WIMS, police stressed that jail staff will not call and ask anyone to pay someone's bail over the phone, and that a call making that demand is a scam.
Police said scammers may use real names, claim to be law enforcement, or offer convincing details to make a call seem legitimate. Caller ID can also be spoofed, so it should not be trusted on its own.
Residents who receive a suspicious call are advised not to send money or share personal or financial information, to hang up, and to contact the county jail directly using an official phone number if they have concerns.
