The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Detention Facility has seen an increase in calls by individuals reporting they were notified that a friend or family member had been arrested and needed money for bail.

It’s really a scam.

These scams usually involve someone claiming to be a representative of a law enforcement agency, a friend of the alleged arrestee, or someone posing as the person arrested. They often ask for wire transfers through services such as Western Union.

The sheriff’s office does not accept services such as Western Union and does not notify family of arrests.

To report an incident of fraud, contact your local law enforcement agency or report the incident to the Internet Crime Complaint Center online.