Court Alerts Public About Pretrial Services Scam

Individuals posing as sheriff’s deputies are attempting to seek payment for "pretrial services".

Oakland, Calif. – March 2, 2026 – The Superior Court of Alameda County is alerting the community of an ongoing scam in which individuals impersonate Alameda County Sheriff’s deputies while seeking payment for “pretrial services”.

According to reports to the Court, the scam involves individuals seeking payment for “pretrial services” to get a defendant out of jail.

To be clear, a defendant cannot be released from jail by paying a fee for pretrial monitoring services, including ankle monitoring. Any conditions for release are set by a judge and will never include a representative calling a family member seeking payment.

Pretrial services is a free service offered to defendants who have been ordered released from jail by a judge while awaiting trial.

If you receive a similar call, the Court asks that you report it to your local law enforcement agency.