News Release

INDIANAPOLIS — The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana has received reports of scammers posing as local law enforcement officials and calling individuals — often professionals such as attorneys and health care providers — to accuse them of allegedly failing to appear as an expert witness at a court hearing or trial.

Recipients of such calls are told they have been found in contempt of court and, if they fail to pay a fine, will be arrested. Using threats and scare tactics, the scammers then entice their victim to pay this “fine” with cash cards or other electronic payment. Making this scam even more nefarious, the scammers spoof government phone numbers and provide their victim with the names of real law enforcement officers, real court officials and real judges. Even if the names are real, the “fine” is fake.

This is a scam. Real courts and real law enforcement officers will never call someone and demand a payment for any reason. If you receive such a call, hang up immediately.

Residents of the Southern District of Indiana who believe they have been the victim of such a scam are encouraged to report the incident to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center and the Federal Trade Commission. Additional information about this scam is available on the FTC’s website.

Here are some tips on things to remember and what to do if you are contacted by anyone claiming to be a law enforcement officer or court official:

• Only scammers will call, text or email demanding that you pay by cash, gift card, cryptocurrency, payment app or a wire transfer service. No court official or law enforcement officer will ever make such a demand.
• Real law enforcement and real court officials will never demand that you pay fines by phone.
• Real law enforcement and real court officials will never call to say you’re going to be arrested (or threaten to arrest you if you hang up).
• Do not divulge personal information or financial information to unknown callers, including those who claim to work for the government.
• A fine will never be imposed until after an individual has appeared in court and been given the opportunity to explain a failure to appear.
• Report scams to the Internet Crime Complaint Center and the Federal Trade Commission.