Fake Court Scams via MoneyGram
Fraudsters impersonating court officers direct victims to send MoneyGram transfers to pay fabricated fines, bail, or settlement fees, targeting communities with lower formal banking engagement.
Part of: Fake Court Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
MoneyGram court scams mirror the Western Union variant but target communities where MoneyGram is the more familiar remittance service. In markets where MoneyGram has broader retail coverage than Western Union — parts of Latin America, Southeast Asia, and some European immigrant communities — it is the naturally selected cash transfer method.
The framing of MoneyGram as a legitimate means to pay court-related charges is particularly effective in communities where formal court processes are poorly understood, making it harder for victims to recognise how implausible the payment demand is.
How this scam works on MoneyGram
A victim receives a threatening phone call from someone claiming to be a court clerk or bailiff. They are told a fine or civil penalty must be paid immediately to avoid enforcement action. The caller instructs the victim to send the payment via MoneyGram to a named receiver, providing a reference number for the transfer.
In some variants, a fake court letter arrives by post before the call, adding a documentary layer that reinforces the apparent legitimacy of the subsequent phone payment demand.
After the first MoneyGram transfer, the caller returns with additional charges attached to the same case — each requiring a separate transfer to a different receiver.
Common red flags
- Court officer requests MoneyGram transfer as payment for a fine or civil penalty
- Receiver is an individual in another city rather than a recognisable government institution
- A court letter or email precedes the phone call but cannot be verified through official channels
- Multiple transfers to different receivers are requested as the case progresses
- You are urged to act before the end of the business day to avoid enforcement
- Case details provided cannot be verified on the court's public docket
How to protect yourself
- Courts do not accept MoneyGram transfers for fines or penalties — all such requests are fraudulent
- Verify any court matter through the official court clerk's office using a publicly listed number
- Contact MoneyGram fraud services immediately if a transfer was already sent
- Request all details in writing from the supposed court before making any payment
- Alert community leaders to warn others in immigrant communities where this format is prevalent
- Report to your consumer protection authority so the scammer details can be investigated
How to report it
- Call MoneyGram fraud services at 1-800-926-9400 immediately
- File with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
- Report to your state court administration office to enable a public warning
Frequently asked questions
The caller gave a case number and told me to bring it to the MoneyGram counter. Does that number mean anything?
No — case numbers used this way are typically invented or borrowed from unrelated real cases to sound official, since MoneyGram counter staff don't verify court case numbers. Treat any MoneyGram instruction tied to a legal matter as fraudulent regardless of the reference details provided.
Different receivers were named for different fees. Is that a normal part of paying a fine?
No — legitimate fine payments go to a single verifiable court account or payment portal, not a series of different individual receivers. Multiple changing receiver names is a strong indicator you're dealing with a fraud network rather than a real court process.
Can MoneyGram help recover a transfer sent for a fake court fine?
Contact MoneyGram's fraud line as soon as possible — recovery is only possible if the transfer hasn't yet been collected, so speed is essential. Report the incident regardless of the outcome, since it can help investigators track the receiving accounts.
What should I do if I receive a court letter asking me to pay by MoneyGram?
Contact the court named in the letter directly using a phone number from the official court website — not the number in the letter. Genuine courts will never include MoneyGram instructions in official correspondence. If the court has no record of the matter, report the letter to your local police.