Scammers Pretend to be Prison Inmates Making Collect Calls

There's a dark irony when a scammer calls pretending to be an incarcerated friend or family member. These prison impersonation scams connect victims to high‑rate premium lines or saddle them with hefty collect‑call charges. Even seasoned phone users in North Carolina can be fooled.

How the Scam Works

Scammers spoof legitimate prison facility names and numbers, then robo‑dial victims at random. You might hear, “Press 1 to accept charges.” If you respond, you’re routed to expensive international or 1‑900‑type lines. Some criminals also hijack your callback number to rack up additional charges without your knowledge.

Red Flags and Verification Steps

To protect yourself:

• Never press any key in response to an unsolicited robocall.
• Don’t return calls to numbers you don’t recognize or that failed to leave a voicemail.
• Verify any inmate’s call through the North Carolina Department of Public Safety (DPS) inmate locator at ncdps.gov/inmate-administration.
• Call the official facility number listed on the DPS site, never use numbers provided in a robocall.
• Check the FCC’s Do Not Call Registry and block repeat offenders via your phone carrier or a call‑blocking app.

“Genuine collect calls from prison usually appear as robocalls inviting you to press various buttons if you agree to accept the charges, just as the scam versions do. That’s why you risk hanging up on a real loved one if you don’t verify first.”

Use Technology to Block Scams

Enable spam and scam detection on your mobile device. Most North Carolina carriers offer free features that identify and block known scam numbers. Consider third‑party call‑filtering apps like RoboKiller or Nomorobo to stop automated scams at the source.

Report Suspected Scams

If you receive a prison scam call, report it promptly:

• NC Department of Justice Consumer Protection: ncdoj.gov/complaints or call 1‑877‑566‑7226.
• Federal Trade Commission: reportfraud.ftc.gov.
• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): ic3.gov.

Staying vigilant, verifying through official channels and using call‑blocking tools are the best defenses against prison impersonation scams.