Police and government impersonation scams: how the fake arrest call works
Quick answer
A caller who says they're police, a court or a federal agency and threatens arrest unless you pay right now is a scammer. Real agencies don't demand payment by phone, gift card, crypto or courier. Hang up, call the agency at a number you look up yourself, and report it at ic3.gov.
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How it works
The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) says it received nearly 61,000 complaints about law enforcement and government impersonation between January 2025 and July 2026, with losses above $1.6 billion.
Most cases start with an unsolicited phone call, sometimes a text or email. The caller ID, email address, names and badge numbers are spoofed so the contact looks official, and some scammers now use AI-enabled video calls, fake uniforms and staged office backgrounds.
The caller then gives you a reason to pay:
- You're accused of a crime, or told your identity was used in one, and must pay to clear the charges or "help the investigation". This is the most common version.
- You missed jury duty or a court date and there's a warrant or fine. The FTC warns that some callers now send you to a fake court website that asks for your date of birth and Social Security number.
- Your passport, driver's license or professional license is expiring, or a medical license was misused, and you must pay to renew or protect it.
- You have ties to another country and face extradition or loss of your home-country passport.
They keep you on the line, push you to act fast and tell you not to talk to family, your bank or the police. Payment is demanded by prepaid cards, bank wire, cryptocurrency, cash deposited at a crypto kiosk, or a courier who comes to collect it.
Red flags
- An unexpected call or text that threatens arrest, a fine or losing a license unless you pay
- Payment by gift card, prepaid card, cryptocurrency, crypto kiosk, wire or a courier picking up cash
- Being told to keep it secret from family, your bank or the police
- Pressure to stay on the line until the payment is done
- A link to a site that looks official but isn't on a .gov address
- Caller ID showing a real police or agency number: it can be faked
Example message
This is Deputy [name] with the county sheriff's office. A warrant has been issued for your arrest for failing to appear for jury duty. To avoid being taken into custody today you must pay the bond. Do not hang up and do not discuss this with anyone. Call back at [phone number] or visit [link] to resolve it.
What to do
- 1
Hang up and verify it yourself
Look up the agency or court's official number on its own .gov website and call that. Never use a number, link or email the caller gave you.
- 2
If you paid, call your bank or card issuer now
Tell them it was fraud and ask them to stop or reverse the payment. For gift cards, contact the card company with the card number and receipt. For crypto, note the wallet address and transaction ID.
- 3
If you shared personal details, protect your identity
Change passwords on accounts you mentioned, turn on two-step verification and consider a credit freeze with the three credit bureaus. Our guide on what to do after a data breach covers the steps.
- 4
Stop all contact
Don't answer follow-up calls from the same people, including someone offering to "recover" the money for a fee.
- 5
Keep records
Save call logs, texts, emails, receipts and payment details. You'll need them for the report and for your bank.
Report it
Check if your details are exposed with Serus
Scammers find your number and address on data brokers and people-search sites. Serus removes them.
Why you got it
These scammers often know your name, address or the court in your county before they call, which makes the threat feel real. Details like these are easy to buy or look up on people-search sites and show up in data breaches. Serus finds where your address and phone number are listed and removes them, and alerts you when your details show up in a breach, so fewer scammers can build a convincing story about you.
Official alerts
Frequently asked
Will the police or a court ever call to demand payment?
No. The FBI says government authorities won't call or text to demand payment or sensitive information, and won't ask you to pay with prepaid cards, cryptocurrency or a courier.
The caller ID showed my local police department. Could it be real?
Caller ID can be spoofed to show any number. Hang up and call the department back at the number on its official website.
What if I really did miss jury duty?
Contact the court directly using the number or website you find yourself. Courts handle missed jury service through official notices, not phone demands for payment.
I already sent money. Can I get it back?
Call your bank, card issuer or the gift card company right away, then file reports with IC3 and the FTC. Quick action gives the best chance of stopping a transfer.
Sources
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