Fake Court Summons Email Script
Emails impersonating courts or law enforcement claim you have been summoned to appear and threaten arrest or a default judgement unless you pay a fine or call a number immediately.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Sanitized example messages
Illustrative, sanitized examples. Personal details are replaced with placeholders such as [phone number] and [fake link].
SUMMONS — [Court Name]: You are required to appear on [date] regarding case [case number]. Failure to appear will result in a warrant for your arrest.
To settle this matter without a court appearance, a fine of [amount] must be paid within 48 hours. Pay now: [fake link]
You have been named as a defendant in civil action [case number]. Contact our office at [phone number] to avoid a default judgement of [amount].
Your Social Security number has been cited in a federal investigation. Call [phone number] immediately to speak to a compliance officer.
What the scammer wants
To create fear of legal consequences that drives you to pay quickly or call, at which point scammers demand payment by gift card or wire and may attempt identity theft by requesting sensitive personal information.
Red flags in the message
- Legal summons arriving only by email with no prior postal notice
- Demand for immediate payment to avoid arrest or a judgement
- Payment requested by gift card, wire, or cryptocurrency
- Phone number provided to 'settle' rather than directing you to an official court website
- Urgency — must act within 24–48 hours
- Case number that cannot be verified on the real court's public docket
- Request for your Social Security number or other personal identifiers
- Threatening language designed to prevent you from pausing to verify
A safe response
Real court summonses are delivered by post or process server, not email. Do not pay or call the number. If you are genuinely concerned, search for the court's official phone number independently and enquire directly.
What not to send
- Gift-card codes or wire transfers
- Social Security number or government ID details
- Payments via any link in the email
What to do if you already replied
- If you paid by gift card, contact the card issuer immediately
- If you sent a wire, contact your bank to attempt a recall
- If you shared personal identifiers, consider placing a fraud alert on your credit file
- Report the email to your national cybercrime authority
- Consult a qualified legal professional if you have a genuine concern about legal proceedings
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot the full message or call details
- Note the sender number, email, or profile
- Save any links (without clicking) and payment details
- Record dates and times