A woman was standing in a pharmacy when her phone rang. The caller said he was a sergeant at the jail, that her son had been arrested, and that she needed to send bail money right away.
None of it was true. Nearly a year later, North Charleston police have made an arrest.
How the scam worked
According to the North Charleston Police Department, the call came on Nov. 30, 2025. The man on the line identified himself as “Sgt. Daniels” with the Charleston County Detention Center.
He told the woman her son was in jail on a marijuana possession charge and that she needed to pay $850 in bail.
Believing the call was real, the woman followed his instructions and sent the money through Zelle to someone described as a bail bondsman in Greenville.
She later reached her son and learned he had never been arrested. She reported the scam to police on Dec. 4, 2025.
Payment traced to Georgia
Investigators said the Zelle payment was tied to a Georgia phone number linked to the name Kadrain Mitchell.
After what police called a lengthy investigation, Mitchell, 35, of Jonesboro, Georgia, turned herself in to detectives at North Charleston City Hall on Monday, Oct. 19.
She is charged with:
- Breach of trust
- Impersonating a police officer
Police have not said whether Mitchell is believed to be the person who made the call or whether others were involved.
The charges are accusations, and Mitchell is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
How to protect yourself from jail and bail scams
Scams like this one work because they create panic. A few things to keep in mind:
- Real jails and police departments do not demand bail over the phone through Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, gift cards or wire transfers.
- Hang up and call back using the official phone number for the jail or police department, not a number the caller gives you.
- Try to reach your family member directly before sending any money.
- Be cautious of urgency. Scammers often say you must pay immediately or your loved one will stay locked up.
If you think you’ve been targeted, contact your local police department.
Source: North Charleston Police Department, as reported by ABC News 4
