Fake Conscription / Military Call-Up Scam

Conscription and military call-up scams exploit widespread anxiety about mandatory military service in countries where national service is compulsory or recently reactivated. They are also effective in countries where military service was phased out but public knowledge of current rules is uncertain.

Since 2022, these scams have risen sharply in regions where geopolitical events have raised genuine public concern about military mobilisation. Scammers exploit the ambiguity and fear generated by real-world events to make fraudulent notices more believable.

The fake notice is formatted to resemble genuine call-up papers, using authentic-looking official fonts, seals, and department names. It references the victim by name and sometimes includes a fake service number. Contact details lead to scammers posing as military or defence ministry officials.

When the victim calls to question the notice or to arrange an exemption, they are presented with a schedule of fees: a medical exemption fee, a deferral administration fee, or a penalty for non-response. In digital versions, the victim is directed to a fake portal to pay online. In phone versions, they are asked to transfer money to a government account. Neither payment achieves anything.

The prospect of being conscripted is alarming for those who have no wish to serve and terrifying for the elderly or those with health conditions who find a call-up implausible. Both reactions motivate payment: healthy individuals want to avoid service, and those clearly ineligible are confused and fearful enough to pay to resolve the apparent error.

Uncertainty about current military service rules — rules that change infrequently but which few civilians monitor closely — makes it difficult for victims to confidently dismiss a notice as fraudulent. The official-looking format reinforces doubt.

The victim receives a letter, message, or call purportedly from the national military or defence ministry stating that they have been selected for mandatory military service or reserve duty. The notice looks official and includes a reporting date, location, and reference number. The victim is then informed that an exemption, deferral, or medical assessment to avoid service is available — but requires a fee. Alternatively, the victim is told a penalty applies for failure to respond to a previous undelivered call-up. Once payment is made, no exemption or resolution is provided and further demands follow.

Notice of conscription: you have been selected for mandatory military service commencing [date]. To apply for a medical deferral, a processing fee of [amount] is required within 72 hours.

Penalty notice: you failed to respond to military service notification ref [number]. To avoid criminal proceedings, pay the penalty of [amount] at [link] immediately.

As a registered reserve officer you are required to report for emergency mobilisation on [date]. To arrange an authorised deferral, contact [number] and pay the administration fee.

Your dual citizenship obligates you to complete military service in [country]. To register a legal exemption, submit [amount] through the official portal at [link].

Defence Ministry alert: your name has been added to the mobilisation list for [date]. Act now to protect your exemption status by paying the deferral fee before the deadline.

Genuine military call-up procedures are well documented and do not include payment options for exemptions by phone or online. Any notice requiring a fee to defer or avoid service should be treated with extreme suspicion.

Verify by calling the official defence ministry or military service authority using a number from the official government website. In many countries you can also verify your draft status online through official portals. If the notice is genuine, a lawyer or citizens-advice organisation can advise you on legitimate exemption procedures — which are never resolved by an anonymous payment.