What to Do If You Get a Suspicious Call About an Inmate

These calls target your weakest points: worry, urgency, and the fear that you can't reach your loved one fast enough. A scammer might claim a family member has been arrested, then pressure you to "pay" immediately to a number they provide. The Lafayette County Sheriff has warned residents about this exact tactic. The key takeaway? Real law enforcement agencies never collect money over the phone.

1. Do not pay or share payment details - If the caller asks for money, gift cards, or any kind of “fee,” treat it as a red flag and stop the conversation.
2. Hang up if they pressure you - Scammers rely on panic and urgency. You don’t need to argue or explain; end the call.
3. Remember the rule that protects you - Legitimate law enforcement agencies will never ask for money over the phone, even if the caller sounds official or insists it’s “standard procedure.”

1. Verify using an official number you trust - Call the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office main line at (662) 234-6421 to confirm whether the story you were told is real.
2. Use published staff contacts if you need the right person - The Sheriff’s Department contact page lists staff contacts, including the Jail Administrator. Use those listings rather than any number the caller gives you.

Think you were contacted by a scammer? Report it. Sheriff East has asked residents who receive suspicious calls to contact the Lafayette County Sheriff's Department with details about the call so a report can be filed.

• ✓ Call the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office at (662) 234-6421, or use the staff contacts listed on the Sheriff’s Department contact page
• ✓ Note the phone number that called you (if you can see it)
• ✓ Write down the date and time of the call
• ✓ Summarize what the caller said (especially any demand for money)
• ✓ Record any names, titles, or other details the caller claimed

Some scammers try to sound official by dropping law-enforcement details - names, titles, or "official" language - hoping you'll stop questioning them. Don't fall for it. The Sheriff's warning still applies: if the call turns into a demand for money over the phone, that's not how legitimate agencies operate.