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Filed under: aftermath

I got a robocall saying there's a warrant for my arrest, is it real?

Last reviewed: 2026-08-01 · Checked with Hunch’s on-device engine, the same one inside the extension. How Hunch checks →

Part of our guide: What to do if you got scammed →

It's a scam, and if you haven't paid or shared details yet, you're fine, just hang up. Courts, sheriffs and police don’t robocall to threaten arrest or demand payment, and don’t ask for gift cards, wire transfers or crypto. The recorded "warrant" plus a 24-hour deadline and a lookalike "court" site like county-court-verify.example is a pure pressure tactic.

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Arrest-warrant robocalls target the general public and lean on anyone anxious about authority, including immigrants unsure of local law and people who genuinely missed jury duty. They work by impersonating law enforcement, manufacturing fear of imminent arrest, and demanding fast, untraceable payment before the victim can stop and verify.

The exhibit
EXHIBIT · CHECK BEFORE YOU ENTER YOUR PASSWORD.
Received via: Phone EN
This is the Sheriff Department. A warrant has been issued for your arrest for missing jury duty. To avoid immediate arrest you must verify your identity and settle the fine within 24 hours at: county-court-verify.exampleunexpected domain, verify where it really leads

Illustrative example of the pattern, not a real message someone received.

How to verify it yourself

  • Recognize the tells: a robocall, a threat of arrest, a deadline, and an unusual payment ask, real agencies do none of these.
  • Don't press any keys, call back the number, or visit the link; simply hang up.
  • If you're unsure, look up your actual local court or sheriff's non-emergency number independently and ask.
  • Never read out card numbers, buy gift cards, or send crypto because a caller says a warrant will be dropped.

Common questions

Could there really be a warrant I don't know about?

A real warrant is never resolved by phone with gift cards or a website payment. If you genuinely want to check, call your local court directly using a number you look up yourself.

I didn't pay, is my number now a target?

You may get more scam calls, but you're safe as long as you shared nothing. Block the number and don't engage with follow-ups.

They knew my name and address, how?

Scammers buy or scrape leaked data, so knowing basic details proves nothing about legitimacy. It's a common trick to sound official.

What should I do with the call?

Hang up, block the number, and report it. You don't owe a robocaller any response, verification, or payment.

If you already responded

  1. Since you didn't pay or share details, simply hang up and don't call the number back. You're likely fine.
  2. Block the number and delete any voicemail or text it left.
  3. If you're worried, independently look up and call your real local court or sheriff's office to confirm nothing is pending.
  4. Report the call at reportfraud.ftc.gov and review the FTC's guidance on phone scams.
  5. Stay alert for repeat calls, and remember no legitimate agency or "recovery service" cold-calls you or charges a fee.

More scams like this

Source: FTC, Phone Scams