Strip search phone call scam: the fake police call that demands videos
Quick answer
A caller posing as police who says you have a warrant or fine and tells you to undress or record yourself is a scammer. Real officers don't demand this or payment by phone. Hang up, don't call back, and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or ic3.gov.
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How it works
The FBI has warned about callers who pose as local law enforcement, using spoofed police phone numbers and the real names, positions and addresses of officers to sound convincing. They tell you there is a warrant or a court fine, then say you can clear it or avoid jail by doing what they ask.
In the version the FBI Denver office describes, that includes sending videos or pictures of yourself conducting a strip search. A U.S. Attorney's Office case in Georgia describes the same scheme: two inmates using contraband phones extorted at least 119 people over supposed missed jury duty fines. Some victims were told to go into a store restroom, undress and record themselves. The scheme mostly targeted women with prominent online profiles.
The Justice Department calls the Georgia scheme extortion. Treat a call like this as a crime against you, not a police matter.
Red flags
- A call from "police" or a "deputy" saying you have a warrant or an unpaid fine
- Instructions to undress, search yourself or record a video or photos
- Payment demanded by gift card, cryptocurrency or a payment app
- Pressure to stay on the line and keep it secret
- A caller ID that matches a real police department: numbers can be spoofed
Example message
This is Deputy [name] from the county sheriff's office. There is a warrant for your arrest over a missed court date. To clear it today you will need to follow my instructions and send proof. Stay on the line and do not tell anyone. Call [phone number] if you hang up.
What to do
- 1
Hang up and don't call back
Don't use the number the caller gave you. If you want to check, look up your local police department's number yourself and ask whether there is a warrant.
- 2
Don't send anything
Don't send videos, photos or money. If you already did, stop all contact, and don't pay to have the recordings deleted.
- 3
If you paid, call your bank or the payment service now
Tell them it was fraud and ask them to stop or reverse the payment. Save the receipts, wallet addresses and call logs.
- 4
If you shared personal details, lock down your accounts
Change passwords for anything you mentioned and turn on two-step verification. Our guide on what to do after a data breach covers the steps.
- 5
Report it
File with the FTC and the FBI's IC3, and tell your local police that you received a threat. Support from someone you trust helps if you were pressured into sending images.
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
Scammers rarely pick targets at random. Your name, number, address and email are sold by data brokers, listed on people-search sites and leaked in breaches, and that is what lets a message use your real details. Serus finds where your details are listed and requests removal, and alerts you when your data shows up in a breach, so fewer scammers can reach you. The FBI notes these scammers use real officer names and addresses, which is the kind of detail that makes a call believable.
Frequently asked
Will police ever tell me to strip or record myself over the phone?
No. Legitimate officers don't call to demand this, and they don't demand payment by gift card, cryptocurrency or payment app.
The number matched my local police station. Is it real?
Caller ID can be spoofed to show any number. Hang up and call the department on a number you looked up yourself.
I sent a video. What now?
Stop contact, don't pay anything, save the evidence and report it to the FTC, IC3 and your local police. You are the victim of extortion.
Is this the same as the fake arrest-warrant call?
It's a variation. Government and police impersonation scams use threats of arrest to get money or personal details; this version adds demands for recordings.
Sources
- fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/denver/news/press-releases/fbi-denver-warns-colorado--wyoming-residents-of-nationwide-phone-scam-where-caller-impersonates-law-enforcement
- justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/georgia-inmates-sentenced-police-impersonation-jury-duty-call-scheme
- consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/06/scammers-are-impersonating-local-law-enforcement
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