Sheriff’s department warns of bail bondsmen scam targeting Northwoods residents

The Oneida County sheriff’s department is warning residents about a new scam that has already cost victims tens of thousands of dollars.

In a message posted on its Facebook page Thursday, the sheriff’s office advised that scammers are calling land lines acting as relatives currently in custody working through bail bondsman and attorneys collecting money for bail. These scammers are actually coming to people's residence to collect the money for bond. Please share and contact your elderly friends and relatives to make sure they are not giving any money to these people!”

“We do not allow bail bondsmen in the State of Wisconsin,” the post notes, adding that legitimate authorities “will never come to your residence to collect cash for bond.”

“This is an elaborate scam that appears to be targeting mostly the elderly,” the post reads. 

Residents in Vilas and Forest counties have also been affected by the scam, according to the post. Authorities in the three counties are working together to identify the individuals involved.

Any Oneida County resident who has provided money to a scammer, or has had someone come to their residence or on their property to collect bail money, is asked to call the Oneida Dispatch Center at 715-361-5100 immediately.