You Can Avoid Being Victim Of Bail Bond Scams. Bail Bond Scams Cost Victims Thousands Of Dollars. 

In November 2020, a second arrest was made in a bail bond fraud case. The person along with an accomplice committed bail bond fraud. This case began exposing possible bail bond scams that can happen.

These scammers prey on people in need of bond help. This leaves many people wondering how to ensure they are using a legit bond service.

Therefore, BailOption wants you to know what to look for and how to avoid these scams.

Who Issues the Bond

The first thing to understand about receiving a bail bond is who issues the bond. In some of the fraud cases, the person represented themselves as a police officer. Police officers do not issue bail bonds. Only the court has the authority to set bond amounts. The only people you need to deal with are court, your lawyer and your bail bondsman.  

The police do not handle any money when it comes to a bond. The court clerk handles all transactions. The court clerk is also required to document document all funds going in and out of the court.

You or your friend can contact the bondsman once bail is set by the court. The bondsman will meet with the person paying for the bond. The BailOption bondsman will meet you in jail if necessary. The BailOption bondsman will bring you the forms that need to be signed regarding the bond and the contract to pay the bond.

When Does The Court Issue the Bond Issued

In Florida, bond amounts can be set at the time of arrest and booking. Many counties have a set fee schedule for different criminal offenses. These schedules are based on not only the crime but also on certain criteria the arrested individual must meet.

If the criteria are met, then the fee is then set. This helps the court system by cutting down on the need for larger dockets of people the judge must see. It also helps with reducing the amount of time someone needs to stay in already overpopulated jails.

When the bond is issued for the crime, you are notified during the booking process. Bondsmen have access to the records of the arrest and can bring up the arrest with your or your loved one’s name. They can see the crime and can tell you or the loved one the amount needed to bond out of jail.

This means that the first phone call can be made to a loved one to handle the bail issue or to the bondsman to start the bonding out process.

Will The Bail Bondsman Meet Me At The Jail To Sign The Bond Paperwork? 

The bail bond can be signed at the jail or by a loved one at the bail bond office. A bail bondsman will not come to your home. In the fraud cases that have come to light, the fake bondsman would come to the person’s home and oftentimes offer their services before the loved one had sought out assistance themselves.

When you are dealing with a legitimate bail bondsman, you will find that signing the paperwork and posting the bond follows a specific process.

For example, you or a loved one will have to reach out to the bondsman first. Once this is done the bondsman will prepare the paperwork and meet you or the loved one at the jail. When the paperwork is signed then the bond is posted. This involves several steps that deal primarily with the bondsman and the jailers or corrections officer.

When the bond is paid and posted, you will be released from jail. The key point to remember to avoid scams is that you have to reach out to the bondsman first. They will not reach out to you first. Secondly, confirm the bail bond office’s legitimacy and location through research and reviews found on major search engines and state government websites.