Warrant Arrest Scam
Americans lost $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, according to the FTC.
Quick Answer
Warrant arrest scams are a form of government impersonation fraud where criminals threaten victims with immediate arrest to extort money, causing losses of nearly $800 million in 2025 alone from government impersonation schemes.
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How It Works
1
A scammer calls, texts, or emails, posing as a law enforcement officer from an agency like the Sheriff's Department, FBI, or U.S. Marshals. They may use a real officer's name and spoof the agency's actual phone number to appear legitimate.
2
The impersonator claims you have an outstanding arrest warrant for a fabricated offense, such as missing jury duty, an issue with your Social Security number, or unpaid taxes. They use an urgent, aggressive tone and may provide personal details to make the threat feel real.
3
To avoid immediate arrest, the scammer demands you pay a fine or bond. They instruct you to use untraceable payment methods like wire transfers, cryptocurrency, prepaid debit cards, or gift cards, and may order you to stay on the phone until the payment is complete.
Red Flags
- Receiving an unsolicited phone call threatening immediate arrest.
- The caller demands payment to clear a warrant or fine.
- You are instructed to pay using gift cards, cryptocurrency, or a wire transfer.
- The caller pressures you to act immediately and forbids you from speaking to anyone else.
- The caller's ID is spoofed to look like a legitimate law enforcement agency.
- They refuse to provide official documentation or a real case number you can verify independently.
- You are asked to meet someone in an unusual location, like a gas station, to hand over cash.
What to Do If Targeted
- Hang up the phone immediately. Do not engage with the caller or provide any personal or financial information.
- Never make a payment. Legitimate law enforcement agencies will never demand payment over the phone to clear a warrant.
- Verify the claim independently. Contact your local law enforcement agency or the relevant court directly using a phone number you know is legitimate, not one provided by the caller.
- Block the scammer's phone number to prevent further contact.
- Tell someone you trust about the call. Scammers rely on fear and secrecy to succeed.
- Report the scam to the appropriate authorities to help them track and stop these criminals.
How to Report It
- FTC — File a fraud report with the Federal Trade Commission. Your report helps law enforcement investigate.
- FBI IC3 — Report internet-enabled crime, including government impersonation, to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
- 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
- Losses from government impersonation scams reached nearly $800 million in 2025. — FBI IC3 2025 Report
- The FBI received nearly 32,500 complaints about government impersonation scams in 2025, up from 17,367 in 2024. — FBI IC3 2025 Report
- The FTC reports that total losses to government impersonation scams across all payment methods reached $618 million in 2023. — FTC 2024
- In the first quarter of 2024 alone, consumers reported losing $20 million in cash to government impersonation scammers. — FTC 2024
- The median loss for victims who paid cash to government impersonators in early 2024 was $14,740. — FTC 2024
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Frequently Asked Questions
No, law enforcement agencies will not call you to threaten arrest or demand money over the phone. Warrants are typically served in person by uniformed officers, and any fines are handled through official court proceedings, not via phone calls demanding gift cards or wire transfers.
To verify if you have a warrant, you must contact the court clerk's office or the sheriff's office in your county directly. Use official phone numbers listed on their government websites. Never use a phone number or link provided by a person who calls you unexpectedly.
Scammers demand payment through methods that are difficult to trace or reverse. These include wire transfers, cryptocurrency like Bitcoin, prepaid debit cards, and gift cards from brands like Google Play or Apple. Government agencies will never ask you to pay for anything using these methods.
Yes, complaints of government impersonation scams, including warrant scams, nearly doubled from 2024 to 2025. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) recorded nearly 32,500 complaints in 2025, a sharp increase from around 17,300 in 2024.
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