PanicStation.org
UK USA
us Legal, police, prison & official contact

What to do if…
you receive a call asking you to store property for someone in custody

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

Do not agree to store anything, collect anything, meet anyone, or send money during the call. Hang up and verify through the jail, prison, or agency using a trusted contact route you find independently.

Do not do these things

  • Do not pay “fees,” “release costs,” fines, deposits, or delivery charges by gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or payment app because a caller demands it.
  • Do not give one-time passcodes, bank logins, Social Security numbers, account numbers, or photos of your ID to a caller.
  • Do not meet a courier, driver, officer, or stranger to exchange money or property based only on the call.
  • Do not trust caller ID, a badge number, a title, or a local-looking number as proof.
  • Do not take sealed bags, unknown packages, medication, weapons, cash, phones, or documents unless the facility has verified the official release process to you directly.
  • Do not call back using a number the caller gives you unless you have independently confirmed it is the facility’s official number.

What to do now

  1. End the call calmly. Say: “I can’t do this over the phone. I’ll contact the facility directly.” Then hang up.
  2. Write down what you remember. Note the claimed facility or agency, name, title, phone number shown, callback number given, what they wanted you to store, whether they asked for money, and any inmate ID or booking number mentioned.
  3. Find the facility yourself. For a county jail, use the county sheriff or county government website. For a state prison, use the state corrections department website. For a federal prison, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons website.
  4. Call the main public number you found independently. Ask for the property desk, records desk, front desk, or watch commander, then ask: “Did someone in custody ask to release property to me, and what is your official process?”
  5. Ask what the facility requires before any pickup. The process may involve written authorization, an ID check, a documented pickup location, or the person in custody signing a release. If staff cannot confirm it through their system, do not proceed.
  6. If money or personal information was requested, treat that as a scam signal. Federal and consumer agencies warn that impersonators may use urgent calls, official-sounding names, spoofed caller ID, and hard-to-reverse payment methods.
  7. If you already paid or shared information, act through your own provider. Contact your bank, card issuer, payment app, wire-transfer company, cryptocurrency platform, or gift-card issuer using the official app, card, statement, or website. Say it may be fraud and ask whether the transaction can be stopped or reversed.
  8. If someone comes to your home or workplace for a handoff, do not take the item. Stay inside or move to a safer place. If you feel threatened, pressured, or in immediate danger, call 911.
  9. Report the call. Report fraud to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If the caller claimed to be from a specific facility, notify that facility through its official number. For no immediate danger, use your local police non-emergency line if you want a local report.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide today whether you will store anything long-term.
  • You do not need to travel anywhere, provide documents, or arrange pickup until the facility confirms the request through its official process.
  • You do not need to prove to the caller that it is a scam.
  • You do not need to keep answering repeat calls while you verify independently.

Important reassurance

Feeling unsure is a useful warning sign here. A legitimate property release can be checked through the facility’s normal process; an urgent caller should not control the timing, payment method, meeting place, or contact route.

Scope note

These are first steps to reduce risk, verify the contact, and avoid irreversible mistakes. Later decisions about accepting property, helping the person in custody, or responding to a scam may need advice from the facility, a lawyer, your bank, or another specialist.

Important note

This is general information, not legal, financial, security, or professional advice. Jail and prison procedures vary by federal, state, county, and local facility. If you cannot verify the request independently, do not proceed.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

Support us