Bail Bonding Scams on the Rise in Horry County

(CONWAY, South Carolina, June 27, 2025) — NeSmith Bail Bonds Founder and Managing Member, Antonious NeSmith, wants the public to be aware of recent bail bonding scams that are on the rise in Horry County and to provide 3 tips so you can protect your finances from predators.

1. Bail Bondsmen usually wait until a family member reaches out to them for assistance and not the other way around. “My office has received numerous phone calls claiming that a person has pretended to be either a bail bonding company or as far as an officer with the jail and requesting money to get their loved one out, and it has all been a scam”, says Antonious NeSmith. “One person has been scammed out of nearly $2,000 and sent the scammer the money via Zelle because they claimed to be a bonding company out of Myrtle Beach”.

2. If you receive a phone call from a person that claims to be a bail bondsman, always go and double-check the telephone number and compare it with the number that is listed online on the company website or another legitimate website such as Google listing or Yelp.

Google listing for NeSmith Bail Bonds, LLC

3. You can look to see if a bail bondsman is licensed or view their contact information that is listed with the SC Department of Insurance by visiting https://online.doi.sc.gov/Eng/Public/Static/DBSearch.aspx

How to search for licensed bail bondsman (SCDOI website)

SC Department of Insurance Website to search for licensed agents such as bail bondsmen

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