A growing bail bond scam is tricking many Gulf Coast residents, with criminals posing as legitimate bond agents and stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Victims say the scam often begins with a call in the middle of the night, claiming a loved one is in jail and that hundreds of dollars are needed to post bail.
Monica Cabrera said her sister-in-law received one of those calls, claiming her husband had a bond. But the claim didn’t make sense.
“It was weird because he didn’t have a bond,” Cabrera said. “So we were like, what is this?”
Trusting her instincts, Cabrera reached out to the real Rapid Bonds and discovered it was a scam.
Yanira Castro, owner of Rapid Bail Bonds, said this has become an all-too-common issue.
“There’s been about 20 to 25 people who have called saying they’ve fallen victim to it,” she said.
Scammers aren’t only using Rapid Bonds’ name — they’re also targeting customers of All Out Bail Bonds in downtown Fort Myers.
Robin Farnsworth, office manager at All Out Bail Bonds, said the impact has been overwhelming.
“I’m well over 1,400 victims that I’ve personally spoken to, and I know that over half a million dollars has been lost,” Farnsworth said. “The numbers that we have are staggering.”
Farnsworth said she realized how devastating the scam could be when a heartbroken mother came to the office, confused about why her son was still in jail after she had already paid $1,000. Farnsworth had to break the bad news.
“We didn’t steal her money,” she said. “The scammer stole her money.”
The scammers are aggressive and persistent, but bail bond professionals say there are ways to protect yourself.
“Bail bondsmen should not solicit,” Farnsworth said. “There are anti-solicitation laws between the hours of 9 p.m. and 8 a.m.”
Castro added that legitimate companies will never ask for money over the phone or through payment apps.
“We like to take payments in person at the office,” she said. “Watch out for anyone asking you to pay over the phone.”
Farnsworth echoed that advice, warning that apps like Zelle and Cash App do not provide fraud protection.
“All those forms of payment don’t offer fraud protection,” she said.
If you’re unsure about who you’re speaking with, bail bond experts recommend asking for the license number and verifying it through the Florida Department of Financial Services website.
“We’ve contacted local authorities, and it’s something they’re investigating,” Castro said. “We have no idea how they’re getting this information.”
To see how the scam works firsthand, Gulf Coast News called one of the suspicious numbers. Someone answered, claiming to be from Rapid Bonds — but when questioned, they quickly hung up.
Farnsworth said the industry needs more support from law enforcement and local leaders to put a stop to the scam.
“I would love to get some officials within Lee County, within the sheriff’s department, and within county government together,” she said. “I’ve spoken with over 30 bail bond companies in this county who want to hold a conference to discuss what can be done. Right now, we’re out in the cold, and no one is telling us anything.”
Victims and bond companies alike say it’s time for action — before more families are hurt.
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