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Federal Court Related Scams

For more information about recent scams:

Fake federal court summons emails: https://www.ag.ks.gov/Home/Components/News/News/262/1292

Traffic matter text messages: https://ksd.uscourts.gov/news/alert-new-traffic-scam-text

Report scams and suspicious communications to the Federal Trade Commission.

Don't give out personal information including social security number, banking information, or credit card information by phone or email.

Scam Basics

Criminals call or email people pretending to be court employees or police officers. They claim you missed jury duty or a court date and demand you pay a fine immediately — or face arrest. They are lying - Do not pay.

How do scams work?

  • Scammers will contact the target by phone or email informing them that they failed to appear for a court hearing or jury duty.
  • Scammers may already know personal details like your name, email, or address. They may use this information to attempt to solicit personal identifying information (date of birth, social security number, etc.).
  • Scammers may use names of real Judges, officers or court employees. 
  • Scammers may use fake phone numbers and/or email address to look official.
  • Scammers may send the target copies of fake arrest warrants or court orders, often times with a forged signature of an actual judge.

How can you determine if you are being targeted by a scammer, or if you do in fact have a court matter that needs to be addressed?

  • ❌ Real courts will NEVER:
    • Call or email you and ask or require you to pay a fine without first having you appear before a judge.
    • Ask you to pay with Bitcoin, pre-paid gift card, or payment app/digital wallet such as PayPal, Venmo, or CashApp.
    • Ask for social security number for failure to appear for jury duty. 
    • Send arrest warrant by mail, registered mail, certified mail, or email.
    • Fine you for missing jury duty without first bringing you before a judge.
  •  ✅  Real courts WILL:
    • Always send jury duty notices by regular mail first.
    • Only deliver arrest warrants in person by law enforcement.
    • Request legitimate court payments in person, before a judge, never by mail or by phone.

The best way to confirm if an arrest warrant or court order is legitimate is to contact the courthouse directly using a number you look up yourself - never use a number the caller gives you.

Click Here For Courthouse Contact Information

What should you do if you have already provided personal identifying information or payment information to a scammer?

  •  Contact the FBI immediately:

    • (505) 889-1300 — Press 1

    • FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center: ic3.gov