If Someone Asks You to Send Money to Another Inmate: What to Know and How to Report Extortion
If someone asks you to send money to another inmate, stop. These requests often involve scams or coercion—and once the money's gone, getting it back is nearly impossible.
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- ✓ You’re asked to send funds to an offender you don’t know.
- ✓ You’re asked to send money “as a favor” for someone else.
- ✓ The request comes with pressure, urgency, or a vague story that doesn’t add up.
- ✓ You’re told to ignore normal channels and just “send it directly.”
Warning: Never send funds to offenders you don't know. And don't send money as a favor for someone else - that's exactly how scams and extortion schemes work.
If the request involves someone you don't personally know, that's a hard stop. TDCJ is explicit: don't send funds to offenders you don't know, and don't send money as a favor for offenders you do know. Even a small, "one-time" request can be the first step in a pattern where you're pressured to keep paying.
Rule of thumb: Don’t mail or drop off cash, stamps, or personal items for offenders to either the unit or the Inmate Trust Fund.
- Stop sending anything - if you feel pressured, don’t send money, cash, stamps, or personal items.
- Report it to the unit warden - explain that you believe the request involves extortion.
- Also report it to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) - TDCJ guidance specifically directs extortion reports to the unit warden and/or the OIG.
When reporting, stick to clear facts: who asked you to send money, who was supposed to receive it, what you were told, and any dates or amounts discussed. Have messages, screenshots, receipts, or transaction confirmations? Keep them together so you can describe exactly what happened.
Already sent money and wondering what happens next? Contact the Inmate Trust Fund at 936.438.8990 with deposit questions. They can tell you the status of a deposit and what information you'll need to provide.
Do this next: Save your receipt or confirmation details. Write down who asked you to send the money and why. If you were pressured or threatened, report it to the unit warden or the Office of Inspector General. Don't send cash, stamps, or personal items to the unit or the Inmate Trust Fund.
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