Fake Police Scams on Email
Fraudulent emails impersonate police or law-enforcement agencies, alleging offences or warrants, to coerce payments or harvest personal information.
Part of: Fake Police Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
A scam police email leans on official trappings: a spoofed sender name, a logo lifted from a force's website, references to statutes, and an attached 'notice' or 'warrant'. In an inbox alongside genuine correspondence, the formality can be enough to make a recipient panic before they scrutinise the details.
Legitimate police forces do not pursue cases or demand payment by unsolicited email. Email is attractive to scammers because addresses and display names are easily faked, attachments can carry malware, and a single message can be blasted to thousands in the hope a few will react.
How this scam works on Email
The email claims you are the subject of an investigation, name-checking offences such as fraud, illegal content, or an outstanding warrant. It often demands a response within a tight window and may instruct you to keep the matter confidential.
You are directed to pay a 'fine' or 'administrative fee', reply with personal and banking details to 'clear your record', or open an attachment that supposedly contains the warrant — a file that may deliver malware instead.
The tone is calibrated to frighten, with threats of arrest, court summons, or publication of your details if you fail to comply promptly.
Common red flags
- An unsolicited email claims to be from a police or law-enforcement body
- You are accused of a crime or told a warrant has been issued against you
- The message demands a fine or fee paid quickly to avoid arrest
- An attachment is presented as a 'warrant' or 'case file' to be opened
- The sender address does not match the genuine agency's official domain
- You are told to keep the matter secret and reply within hours
How to protect yourself
- Treat any police email demanding payment or personal data as a scam
- Do not open attachments or click links in unsolicited law-enforcement emails
- Check the sender's full email address against the agency's official domain
- Contact your local police on a publicly listed number to verify any claim
- Never reply with identity documents or bank details
- Delete the email and report it through your provider's phishing tool
How to report it
- Use your email provider's 'Report phishing' function on the message
- Report the impersonation to your local police non-emergency line
- File a report with your national cybercrime or fraud reporting service
Frequently asked questions
I opened the attachment in a fake police email — should I be worried about my device?
Possibly — attachments in these emails can carry malware, so run a scan with trusted, reputable security software and watch for unusual behavior like slowdowns or unexpected pop-ups. If you entered any information into a form within the attachment, also change relevant passwords and monitor your accounts.
Can I reply to the email to ask the sender to prove who they are?
It's better not to reply at all — responding confirms your email address is active, which can lead to more targeted attempts. Instead verify independently by contacting your local police through a publicly listed number, and report or delete the email without further engagement.
Why does the email cite specific laws or statute numbers if it's fake?
Citing real-sounding legal language is a manipulation tactic meant to add a veneer of authority and make the threat feel researched. Scammers can copy legal terminology from public sources without any genuine case existing — statute numbers are not evidence the email is legitimate.
Is an official-looking logo proof the police email is genuine?
No. Logos are easily copied from public websites, and sender names can be spoofed. Genuine police do not demand payments or personal data by unsolicited email — verify any concern by phoning the force directly.