Fake Court Scams via Bank Transfer
How impostors posing as court officials pressure victims into bank transfers to pay fabricated fines and bonds.
Part of: Fake Court Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
In the bank-transfer version of the fake court scam, a caller claiming to represent a court demands that the victim transfer money to a designated account to pay a fine or post a bond. The request is dressed up with case numbers and official-sounding language to appear legitimate.
Bank transfers to an account the scammer controls can be moved onward quickly and are hard to recover. Courts collect fines and bonds through official, documented processes — never by demanding an immediate bank transfer to a private account on a phone call.
How this scam works on bank transfer
The caller claims the victim faces a contempt charge or a missed-payment penalty and must transfer funds to a 'court collections' account to avoid escalation. They provide account and routing details and a same-day deadline.
The victim initiates the transfer, which lands in a mule account and is forwarded before any complaint is filed. The scammer then reports a 'processing error' and requests a second transfer to correct it.
The pressure relies on fear of legal consequences. Because the account details look like a normal bank account, victims may not realize the destination is controlled by fraudsters until the money is gone.
Common red flags
- A caller demands a bank transfer to a 'court collections' account
- You are given account details and a same-day deadline
- Threats of arrest or escalation are used to rush the transfer
- A second transfer is requested to fix a 'processing error'
- The account belongs to an individual rather than a verifiable court
- The request comes by phone rather than formal court process
How to protect yourself
- Know that courts collect fines through documented official channels, not phone-demanded transfers
- Hang up and call the court clerk using an official number
- Never transfer money to a private account based on a phone threat
- Ask your bank to review the transfer details for fraud markers
- If you transferred funds, contact your bank's fraud team immediately
- Verify any legal matter in writing through the actual court
How to report it
- Report to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- Contact your bank to report the transfer and request assistance recovering funds
- Confirm with the court clerk that no warrant exists and report the impersonation
Frequently asked questions
What if the account name sounds like a real court?
Scammers choose official-sounding account names to seem credible, but courts do not collect fines by phone-demanded transfers to private accounts. Verify with the court clerk directly before sending anything, and report the call if it is fraudulent.