The United States government will never send warrants or legal notices via email messages. They would be served in person by a U.S. Marshal or other law enforcement officers. Therefore, recipients of arrest warrant emails like the one below are asked not to follow the instructions in them. The fake emails frighten recipients into responding to the scammers or call a telephone number operated by them, by threatening legal action for some bogus federal charges. If the scammers get their potential victims to contact them, they will ask them to send money or make payment in order to stop the so-called pending legal action against them. This is how some scammers steal money from their victims.
Anyone who has received a fake arrest warrant should contact the FBI or the district U.S. Marshals Office. If there is any question regarding the authenticity of a warrant, the district clerk of court should be contacted.
Sample of a "United States District Court Arrest Warrant" Scam
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
920 WEST RIVERSIDE AVENUE
P.O BOX 1493
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 99210
In The Matter Of Arrest For ,
NON – PAID LOAN & CHECK FRAUD Case Number:- IL/269574
ARREST WARRANT
To:- Any authorized law enforcement officer
An application by a federal law enforcement officer or an attorney for the government requested to arrest the following person.
Charges Pressed against the name are:-
Count 1: Violation of federal banking regulation
Count 2: Collateral Cheque Fraud (According to act no 76)
Count 3: Theft By The deception (According to act no 48)
PS: If you fail Respond within 48 hours this Legal Action will be activated. You be Entitled for an OOCR, so Please
Call on (202)506-8086 and listed this document.
I find that the affidavit (S) or any recorded testimony, establish probable cause to arrest the Person .
Alan Cooper
State Attorney Office
Spokane , WA 9921