Easy Prey Podcast: How to Recognize and Avoid Bail Bond Scams
Getting a phone call claiming a loved one has been arrested can be terrifying and scammers are increasingly exploiting that fear. In an interview with the Easy Prey podcast, Julie Henderson, president of the North Carolina Bail Agents Association and a veteran bail bonds professional, explains how these scams work, why they have become so widespread and how fraudsters pressure victims into making immediate payments through gift cards, Cash App, Venmo or other nontraditional methods. She emphasizes that legitimate bail agents and law enforcement do not pressure families into making instant payments and encourages people to verify an arrest through the jail or licensed bail agents before sending any money.
Henderson also discusses how families can protect themselves by slowing down, asking questions, verifying the identity of anyone requesting payment and even establishing a family password to confirm emergencies. She urges victims to report scams to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, state attorneys general and local law enforcement so authorities can better understand the scope of the problem and work to stop these increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes.
Below is a summary of the segment as well as a link to the full interview.
BAIL BONDS SCAMS WITH JULIE HENDERSON
Jun 17, 2026
Getting a call that someone you love has been arrested is scary enough. Getting that call from someone who sounds official, knows just enough to seem credible, and says you have to send money right away is exactly the kind of moment scammers are counting on. Julie Henderson is the president of the North Carolina Bail Agents Association and has spent 24 years working in the bail bond industry.
She started in the field almost by accident after applying for what she thought was a legislative assistant job, and she has stayed because she cares about helping people get through one of the most stressful situations a family can face. In this episode, Julie explains what is really happening with bail bond scams, how scammers are finding people so quickly, and why these calls can feel so convincing.
