Multnomah County, Ore. (Dec. 15, 2025) — Multnomah County is warning the public about scams targeting friends and family members of adults on pretrial monitoring.
Scammers are falsely claiming they can secure someone’s release from custody, treatment services and GPS monitoring, in exchange for online payments, wire transfers, gift cards, or other forms of money transfers.
This warning follows reports from justice-involved individuals and family members to the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) and the Department of Community Justice (DCJ) regarding suspicious calls received with offers for early release. MCSO and DCJ provide pretrial monitoring through the Close Street Program and Pretrial Services Program, respectively.
“Release decisions are governed by Oregon law and the courts,” said MCSO Chief Deputy Stephen Reardon, who manages MCSO’s Corrections Division. “If someone is on the phone claiming to be a law enforcement member and asking you for money, you’re on the phone with someone trying to steal from you, not help you. It’s perfectly acceptable to hang up the phone.”
The County wants the community to know that there is no legal method — none — by which any person can obtain the release of an adult in custody by sending money to a private party, paying online through non-authorized third-party websites, or transferring funds to someone who calls claiming to represent law enforcement.
The only two legitimate ways to post bail for an adult in custody are:
- Through the official TouchPay Online portal linked directly from MCSO’s website (MCSO Facility #297204), or
- In person at the Inverness Jail or the Multnomah County Detention Center.
Everything else is a scam.
No deputy, sergeant, or staff member from MCSO or DCJ will ever call you and request payment over the phone. We do not negotiate court cases or jail releases. We do not offer discounted release programs. We do not place adults in custody on “GPS release programs” in exchange for payment. We do not collect money for missing jury duty.
These schemes are attempts to exploit fear, confusion and urgency.
The MCSO has been proactive in educating the public about scam activity and fraud targeting our community including:
- MCSO It’s a SCAM!
- MCSO Warns about Jury Duty Scam
- MCSO Highlights Fraud Awareness Week
- MCSO Don’t Get Duped
Anyone who believes they were targeted or scammed is encouraged to contact their local law enforcement agency and file a report.
Community members can always verify information regarding pretrial monitoring by calling DCJ at (503) 988-5042 or the MCSO non-emergency line at (503) 823-3333 or (503) 988-3689.
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