Buzz
Any kind of official engagement with the police can be overwhelming. Whether it’s being stopped on the road or receiving contact about an investigation, a rush of adrenaline is common—and if the situation involves any suggestion of wrongdoing on your part, panic can set in. Law enforcement has the authority to arrest and detain individuals, which can be unsettling, even if you’re innocent. This disruption can be alarming.
Scammers are well aware of this and often exploit it. They also take advantage of our lack of familiarity with police procedures, as most people don’t interact with law enforcement frequently. This can make it difficult to identify when something feels off in your dealings with the police, especially with the ease of faking the phone number of your local police station and using real officers' names. The anxiety you experience only adds to the pressure, making it simpler for scammers to trick you into agreeing to things you’d never normally accept. However, real police officers would never ask you to do any of these five things. If someone posing as a cop requests any of them, you're likely dealing with a scam.
Requests related to warrants or bail
Law enforcement may contact you by phone for several reasons, but they will never call about outstanding warrants or threaten you with arrest. As New York State Trooper Jennifer Jiron mentioned in an interview with Spectrum News earlier this year, police will 'never call or email' regarding warrants. If there's a warrant for your arrest, they will come directly to arrest you, not call you to discuss it.
They also will not call to ask for bail money. If a loved one is arrested and needs help with bail, they will reach out to you themselves. No legitimate police officer will call and set up complicated arrangements to pay bail. The moment someone pretending to be an officer mentions a warrant or bail, hang up. You can check whether a warrant exists or if someone truly needs your help, but it’s unlikely you’ll find anything.
Request payment
Real officers will never try to pressure you into paying them directly for anything, especially over the phone. A common scam involves fake officers calling to inform you that a warrant has been issued for your arrest—often for something that sounds plausible but isn’t true, like missing jury duty or another court-related event. They may then tell you that you can avoid arrest, hire a lawyer, or pay immediately to make the warrant disappear.
True law enforcement officers will never demand immediate payment from you, whether over the phone or in person. If you owe a fine, there will be official procedures for paying it, and you’ll never be under pressure to settle it instantly.
Another thing real officers never do? Request that you pay a fine using gift cards, cryptocurrency, or through apps like Zelle. Regardless of how official they may seem, how much personal information they have, or how believable your alleged crime is, if they suggest using an unconventional payment method, it’s definitely a scam.
Request financial information
While police may investigate someone's finances during a crime investigation, legitimate officers will never call you to ask for sensitive financial details such as account numbers, passwords, or your Social Security number. Any necessary information will be obtained through proper investigative channels, and they won’t need to contact you directly for it. As FBI agent Kevin Vorndran stated in an interview with WTOP News, 'No law enforcement official is going to make contact with you over the phone and ask you to provide your Social Security number.'
If someone asks you for such information, it’s because they’re looking to empty your bank accounts and steal your identity—because they are not real law enforcement officers.
Insist you meet in person
A clear sign you're dealing with a fraudulent officer is if they insist that you meet them somewhere other than the police station—particularly if the meeting involves paying for any fine, bail, or penalty. They also won’t come to your house to collect money. If police need to speak with you for a legitimate investigation, they will either come to you or arrange for you to meet them at the station.
Tell you to keep the conversation confidential
A key tactic of scammers is to isolate their targets: They don’t want you talking to anyone else because a third party might notice the scam. When impersonating law enforcement, they often instruct you not to discuss the matter with anyone. Their typical excuse is that it's an 'ongoing investigation,' and your cooperation would be compromised if you fact-check or share information. This psychological manipulation keeps you trapped in the fake narrative they're creating, preventing you from questioning why the FBI or local police would want you to clear a warrant with gift cards.
If you're contacted by someone claiming to be a police officer, get their details (name, badge number, case information) and hang up. Then, contact the police station directly using a number you’ve found on your own. If it’s a legitimate investigation, they will have no problem connecting you with the officer or another representative who can provide assistance.
