Fake Court Summons Scam
Americans lost $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, according to the FTC.
Quick Answer
Fake court summons scams use threats of arrest for missed jury duty or other legal violations to steal millions of dollars annually by coercing victims into making immediate payments.
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How It Works
1
A scammer contacts you unexpectedly by phone call, email, or text message, posing as a law enforcement officer, court clerk, or other government official. The caller ID or email address may be spoofed to look authentic.
2
The impersonator claims you have missed jury duty, have an outstanding warrant, or owe a legal fine. They use aggressive and threatening language, creating a sense of urgency and fear of immediate arrest or severe financial penalties.
3
To resolve the fake legal issue, the scammer demands an immediate payment for a "fine" or "bond." They instruct you to pay using unconventional and untraceable methods, such as gift cards, wire transfers, payment apps, or cryptocurrency ATMs.
4
In some versions, the scammer's goal is to steal your personal information. They may ask you to "verify" your Social Security number, date of birth, or bank account details to use for identity theft.
Red Flags
- You receive a phone call, text, or email about a court summons; official summons are almost always delivered by U.S. Mail or in person.
- The caller threatens you with immediate arrest, fines, or jail time if you do not comply.
- You are pressured to make an immediate payment to avoid legal consequences.
- The caller demands payment via gift cards, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or a payment app like Venmo or Zelle.
- You are asked to provide sensitive personal information like your Social Security number or financial details over the phone or email.
- The caller becomes angry or evasive when you ask questions or try to verify their identity.
- The email contains suspicious links or attachments, which could install malware on your computer.
What to Do If Targeted
- Hang up the phone or delete the email immediately. Do not reply or click on any links.
- Never provide personal or financial information to an unsolicited caller or emailer.
- Independently verify the claim. Look up the official phone number for the court clerk's office or sheriff's department in your county and call them directly to ask if you have any outstanding summons or warrants.
- Do not use any phone numbers, links, or contact information provided by the potential scammer.
- Block the phone number and report the email as spam or phishing.
- If you have already paid a scammer, report it to the payment provider (e.g., your bank, the gift card company) immediately to see if the transaction can be reversed.
How to Report It
- FTC — File a fraud report with the Federal Trade Commission. This helps federal investigators track and stop scammers.
- FBI IC3 — Report the scam to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), especially if the contact was online or involved financial loss.
- FCC — File a complaint about phone scams, robocalls, or unwanted calls with the Federal Communications Commission.
- AARP Fraud Helpline — Call 877-908-3360 for free support from trained fraud specialists. Available to anyone, not just AARP members.
Key Statistics
- In 2023, the FTC received nearly 160,000 reports of government impersonation scams. — FTC 2024
- Reported losses from combined business and government impersonation scams topped $1.1 billion in 2023, more than three times the amount reported in 2020. — FTC 2024
- The FBI's IC3 received 14,190 government impersonation complaints in 2023. — FBI IC3 2023 Report
- Losses linked to government impersonation scams hit approximately $797 million in 2025, nearly double the amount from the previous year. — FBI IC3 2025 Report
- Complaints of government impersonation scams nearly doubled from 17,300 in 2024 to almost 32,500 in 2025. — FBI IC3 2025 Report
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Frequently Asked Questions
This scam is effective because it preys on people's fear of law enforcement and the legal system. Scammers use intimidating language and threats of immediate arrest to create panic, which overrides a person's natural skepticism and pressures them into acting without thinking.
Official jury summons and court notices are typically sent via U.S. Mail. To verify a summons, do not use the contact information provided in the suspicious communication. Instead, look up the official phone number for your local county clerk's office or the relevant court on their official government website and call them directly to inquire.
No, legitimate government agencies, including courts and law enforcement, will never call you to demand immediate payment for a fine over the phone. They will never ask you to pay using gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers. Any demand for payment using these methods is a guaranteed sign of a scam.
Scammers often have personal details obtained from public records or data breaches to make their claims seem more credible. Do not confirm any information they have or provide any new details. Simply hang up and report the incident to the appropriate authorities at reportfraud.ftc.gov and ic3.gov.
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