North Charleston, S.C. — A woman in North Charleston was scammed out of over $3,000 in a fraudulent bail bond scheme, according to the North Charleston Police Department.
The Scam Unfolds
According to an incident report filed on June 30, the victim received a call on June 27 from an individual claiming to be collecting bail for someone. The scammer told the victim that the bail amount was $3,300 and that it could be paid through Cash App.
Believing the call was legitimate, the victim transferred the $3,300 and was told that the person the bond was associated with would be released at 8:30 p.m. that night.
The Discovery
However, when the victim tried to contact the individual later that evening, they found that the incarcerated person had not been released as promised. The scammer was also ignoring calls and text messages from the victim. Concerned, the victim then contacted the bail bonds company that was supposedly handling the transaction.
The bail bonds company confirmed that the bail had not been paid and that the individual who had contacted the victim was not affiliated with the business.
Further Developments
Soon after, the victim was contacted by a stranger who claimed to have been contacted by the scammer and instructed to “split the $3,000.” The stranger told the victim that they wanted nothing to do with the suspect or the money.
The Investigation
The North Charleston Police Department is investigating the scam. They urge individuals to be cautious when receiving calls or messages regarding financial transactions, especially when asked to use platforms like Cash App for payments.
