In most instances it’s not a great idea to take collect calls from jail. Except if you personally know the caller and also have talked about such arrangements in the past you could end up a victim of a phone scam or identity theft.
This frequent scam is being used from numerous penal institutions around the country. The unknown caller will ask an operator to dial the number and make the call. When the homeowner answers the operator is going to ask the homeowner if they will accept the call.
Typically the caller is looking to catch the homeowner unawares. Many people could be scammed if they know an individual in jail and mistakenly think the caller is someone they know. If the call is accepted the caller then is aware the number is genuine. At times phone numbers are called at random in the hopes of reaching an unsuspecting person at home.
Once the call is accepted the caller might then ask for a certain person then may later beg off stating the number was dialed by mistake. Meanwhile the individual who answers may have offered the caller a name and perhaps an address. With this information the caller might then use the number to charge several calls from prison.
Although telephone companies are aware of the scam of collect calls from jail they may not catch multiple phone calls billed to the exact same phone number until it’s too late. By then many thousands of dollars in telephone calls could be charged to your phone account. In certain instances the calls may be to someone on the outside who’s assisting to plan some type of criminal activity. The majority of people won’t want their phone number connected with this kind of activity.
If a homeowner gets a call and the operator is asking about accepting the charges it’s generally a good idea to say no when in doubt. You might ask about exactly where the call is coming from and who is calling if such information is not supplied. Write the details down and don’t agree to the call. You could then call local authorities or the state Attorney General to report the incident. Though other people may have reported the same information every complaint contributes weight to the case.
Collect calls from jail can be valid however there are less costly alternatives for people incarcerated to make phone calls home to family and friends. Various phone card providers offer special rates for individuals in prison. Members of the family can mail these cards which can last from one to a number of months, based on the monetary amount. Don’t agree to collect calls from jail from an individual you don’t know.
Are you looking for a legitimate way for making collect calls from inmates? Be sure to visit Easy Jail Call for tips on making cheap inmate calls.
