Prisoner ''Cash-App'' Scam Rips Off Family & Inmates Behind Bars

''Can I use your account this week?'' This is how a cash app scam behind bars begins.

For years, prison inmates have been ripping off each other, their friends and families. Under the pretext of loss of canteen privileges, a prisoner will approach another inmate to use his Inmate Trust Account. Greed and necessity drive many prisoners to fall victim to this scam.

Friends and family members are encouraged to dump money into inmates accounts. Often, the money is sent under some pretext of hardship. Often this money is charged back - or stolen credit cards are used.

For decades, prison inmates across the country have been allowed to have money transferred into their institution trust accounts via electronic transfer. In Massachusetts, a vendor called Accesscorrections accept credit card payments by telephone or email. The system can be hacked using stolen credit cards. Prisoner's become liable when a stolen credit card is used to add funds to an Inmate Trust Account.

Prison profiteering has exploded nationwide. Every state prison system , and the federal bureau of prisons, use some kind of electronic transfer of funds. The scam is simple, an inmate approaches another inmate and says: ''Can I use your account?'' The inmate who accepts the offer usually receives about $15.00 dollars for the transaction. But, the money that is transferred into the account is from a stolen credit card. Eventually there's a charge back, but this could take months. Also, the charges are often small and rarely raise alarm. Prisoner's in Massachusetts may only purchase a maximum buy of $55.00 dollars.

Eventually, the inmate who is ripped off discovers his account is frozen. Prison allows this scam to persist because there's a code of silence behind bars. Also, prisoners who rip off fellow inmates ''check off'' the unit never to be seen again. And, in states like Massachusetts there's no real prison politics - nothing ever really happens to the convict ripping off other convicts.

This ''cash-app'' scam extends beyond placing money in a fellow inmates account for canteen. Drugs and other contraband can be purchased using these electronic transfers. It's common to hear one prisoner ask another for ''their digits''. Venmo, Pay Pal, and other third party cash-app's are easily created. Friends and family members simply provide the credit card number and the inmate is good to go.

Modern prisoners don't need to hide money in their rectums - like the past. Today, most prisoners have their credit or debit card numbers memorized.

A barter system is used behind bars. But, with the explosion of electronic money transfer and for-profit corporations making it very easy to accept credit cards. Instead of trading in stamps and coffee to pay for goods and services, incarcerated people can electronically add money directly to each others trust fund accounts.

The scam is two parts, first, criminals in prison know criminals on the street. Stolen credit cards are easy to get. And, also, inmates with no honor or integrity will add $55.00 dollars or more in a fellow inmates trust account then contact their credit card provider and demand a charge back. In each case, the money is stolen or the goods and services are stolen and the result is the same, the scammed inmates account is frozen.

But, adding money for canteen purchases is the tip of the iceberg. Inmate Trust Account are like bank accounts. Easily used for laundering drug money, international transfers and cleaning dirty stolen cash or drug transactions.

The scam isn't as easy or popular today as it was. Most prison inmates are aware of the rip-off. Still, greed and necessity drive many prisoners to allow a stranger to drop money into their institution trust account. Most prisoners are indigent. Broke. People with no money for soap, toothpaste, coffee or the simple basic things that make life behind bars tolerable. The promise of getting $15.00 dollars for renting their trust account remains a necessity.

Almost every prisoner has been ripped off from this scam. Prison life is all about going along and getting along. It's hard to say no to a fellow con who tells you his ''mother'' will put money on your account. And, it's impossible to say no when each prisoner lives under such desperate circumstances.

The cash-app scam is a part of prison life. Most inmates have no meaningful way to make money behind bars. Renting their trust account is a easy way to make a fast $15.00 dollars.