Jail scam calls in Wichita come in two forms. In one, the caller says they are with the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office and that you have a warrant you can clear by paying a fine right now. In the other, the caller says a relative is in jail and needs bail money immediately. Both are built on fear and speed, and both fall apart in about five minutes if you hang up and check. This page lists the warning signs, shows how to verify a real arrest and explains how a legitimate bail bond is actually paid in Kansas.
If you want a real person to check a name for you, call Case Bail Bonds at (316) 900-1667. We are at 705 N Broadway, three blocks from the jail.
On this page
- What the Sedgwick County Sheriff has warned about
- The family emergency version
- 7 signs a bail or warrant call is fake
- How to verify an arrest in 5 minutes
- How a real bail bond is paid in Kansas
- What a real call from the jail sounds like
- If you already paid
- Frequently asked questions
- Call a real bondsman
What the Sedgwick County Sheriff has warned about
The Sheriff’s Office has issued repeated scam alerts. Two of them describe the pattern clearly.
| Alert | What callers claimed | What they wanted |
|---|---|---|
| November 7, 2022 | They were Sheriff’s Office employees and the victim had an arrest warrant for missing jury duty | Gift cards to pay a fine |
| June 10, 2021 | The victim had a warrant for failing to appear in court as a witness, and it could be put on hold | Payment of a fine |
In both alerts the Sheriff’s Office said the same things:
- Scammers use caller ID spoofing, so the call can look like it comes from a real county number.
- The Sheriff’s Office does not solicit payment for any fines over the phone or in person.
- Never pay someone over the phone with a credit card, debit card, gift card or prepaid debit card unless you started the purchase yourself.
- Do not give personal information, including your Social Security number, to someone who calls you.
- To check whether a call was real, call the Sheriff’s Office at 316-660-3880.
The family emergency version
The Federal Trade Commission describes the second kind. Someone calls or messages claiming to be a relative or close friend in trouble, or a lawyer, police officer or bondsman speaking for them. They stress urgency and secrecy. The FTC warns that some scammers now use artificial intelligence to copy a loved one’s voice from a short audio clip, so the caller can sound right.
The payment methods give it away. The FTC lists wire transfers, cryptocurrency, payment apps and gift cards, where the caller asks for the numbers on the back. The agency’s advice fits in three words: slow down and verify.
7 signs a bail or warrant call is fake
- You are told to pay a fine to cancel a warrant. Warrants are cleared in court or by posting a bond at the jail, not by phone.
- Gift cards or cryptocurrency. No court, jail or bondsman is paid this way.
- You must act in the next hour. Real cases move on court schedules.
- You are told to keep it secret. A real bondsman wants to talk to the whole family, because cosigners matter.
- The caller will not let you hang up and call back.
- The person is not on the jail record. See the next section.
- The caller contacted you first. Be careful with any stranger who calls to say your relative is in jail and offers to handle the bond.
One sign is not on this list on purpose: being asked to pay by card or electronic transfer. A real Kansas bondsman can accept those. The difference is that you can verify the arrest, the company and the address before you pay.
How to verify an arrest in 5 minutes
- Hang up. You lose nothing by doing it. A real jail booking will still be there in five minutes.
- Search the name. People booked into the Sedgwick County Jail are listed on the Sheriff’s inmate search, with charges and bond amounts. Our Sedgwick County inmate search page links to it.
- Call the jail’s automated line at 316-660-5245.
- Call your relative at the number you already have, and call one other family member.
- Call the Sheriff’s Office at 316-660-3880 if the caller claimed to be a deputy.
If the person is not on the record and answers their own phone, you have your answer.
For a warrant call, check for yourself. Our Wichita warrant search page lists the official city and county lookups. If a warrant is real, it is handled at the courthouse or with a bond. See walk through bonds in Wichita.
How a real bail bond is paid in Kansas
Knowing the real process makes the fake one obvious. K.S.A. 22-2809b sets the rules for every licensed bondsman in the state.
| Rule | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| The premium is at least 10% of the bond | A quote far below 10% is not a real offer |
| At least half of that minimum is paid before posting | Paying something up front is normal |
| Accepted payment is cash, a check, a card with an approval number, or a completed bank or electronic transfer | Gift cards and cryptocurrency are not on the list |
| The bondsman must be physically present at the jail to sign the bond | A real bondsman is in Wichita, not in a call center |
| Each company is approved by the chief judge of the judicial district | You can ask who they are and check |
A real bail bond also comes with paperwork: an application, an indemnity agreement for the cosigner and a receipt. You can do it in person at an office with an address. Ours is 705 N Broadway.
There is one more protection in the same statute. A bondsman may not pay inmates for referrals. A call that begins with a stranger who says an inmate gave them your number deserves a second look.
What a real call from the jail sounds like
Real calls from the Sedgwick County Jail come through the jail’s phone provider, ICSolutions, and you need an account with that provider to receive them. The inmate calls you. Jail staff do not call families to collect bond money, and a deputy does not call to offer you a way to avoid arrest.
Details on real calls, including the two free calls each inmate gets every week, are in Sedgwick County Jail phone calls and visitation.
If you already paid
- Gift cards. Call the card company right away, report the fraud and keep the cards and receipts.
- Card or bank transfer. Call your bank and dispute the charge.
- Payment app or wire. Report it to the service immediately and ask for a reversal.
- Report it. File with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and with your local police department. The Sheriff’s Office asks victims to contact the law enforcement agency where they live.
- Tell your family. Scammers may call back or try another relative.
Frequently asked questions
Will the Sheriff call me about a warrant?
The Sheriff’s Office says it does not solicit payment for fines over the phone or in person. Verify any call at 316-660-3880.
Can you pay a warrant over the phone in Sedgwick County?
No one from law enforcement will call you to collect. Warrants are resolved through the court that issued them or by posting bond.
Is it normal for a bondsman to take payment by phone?
Yes. Kansas law allows card payments and electronic transfers. Verify the booking and the company first.
How do I know a bail bond company is real?
It has a physical office, written contracts and a bondsman who goes to the jail. You can call the number on its website, not the number that called you.
My grandmother got one of these calls. What should she do?
Hang up, call the family member directly and call the Sheriff’s Office to report it.
Call a real bondsman
Case Bail Bonds is family owned and run by Tyson and Rachel Case, both born and raised in Wichita. Call (316) 900-1667 or come to 705 N Broadway, Wichita, KS 67214.
Sources
- Sedgwick County Sheriff, scam alert, November 7, 2022
- Sedgwick County Sheriff, scam alert, June 10, 2021
- Federal Trade Commission, scammers use fake emergencies to steal your money
- K.S.A. 22-2809b, compensated sureties, Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes
- Sedgwick County Sheriff, inmate communications
This article is general information checked against the sources above in October 2026. It is not legal advice.
