Scammers targeting families of Big Horn County inmates

Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office is warning families of incarcerated individuals of scam callers impersonating the sheriff’s office and claiming their relative will be released in exchange for bond. 

“Somebody is targeting the Big Horn County Jail and trying to extort money out of them for fraudulent means,” Sheriff Ken Blackburn said. 

Twice in the last week, scammers have contacted family members of people on the Big Horn County Jail roster, once successfully obtaining $500. Blackburn noted that names and demographics of incarcerated people are available on the BHCSO website through the Freedom of Information Act, and scammers have utilized that information to ultimately contact their families. 

The fraudulent call suggested that BHCSO was over capacity and releasing prisoners with an ankle monitor for $1,500 bond. None of that information is correct, Blackburn said, and people receiving such calls should immediately hang up and contact the sheriff’s office at 307-568-2324.