Government

Louisiana parish warns of jail payment kiosk scam

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October 7, 2026

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The Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office in Louisiana is warning about scammers who claim the payment kiosk at the Ouachita Correctional Center is malfunctioning, according to a KEDM News report.

The callers instruct relatives or friends of incarcerated people to dial another number and pay by phone to secure their loved one's release.

Louisiana has parishes instead of counties, a reflection of its French and Spanish Catholic heritage.

Officials said the kiosk is functioning and deputies would not call to request telephone payments for someone's release. The sheriff's office advised anyone receiving such a demand to hang up and report the incident directly to the agency.