U.S. Marshals Warn of Scammers Using Fake Arrest Warrants and Payment via Prepaid Cards

Charlotte, NC - The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Western District of North Carolina is alerting the public of an imposter scam involving individuals claiming to be U.S. Marshals, court officers, or other local law enforcement officials who are sending citizens in western North Carolina fake arrest warrants and demanding payment through prepaid cards connected to financial institutions in the state of Utah.

The documents may appear to be official looking and credible and may include names of actual judges, law enforcement officers and courthouse addresses. The scammers will tell the victim to send money to clear the warrants.

The USMS urges people to report the mailings to their local FBI office and file a consumer complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, which can detect patterns of fraud from the information collected and share that data with law enforcement.  

*Please remember that the U.S. Marshals Service WILL NEVER ask you for credit or debit card numbers, to send wires or to obtain gift cards for any purpose.    

*Always authenticate correspondence by calling the clerk of court’s office in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina and verify the court order that you receive.

If you believe you were the victim of such a scam, you are encouraged to report the incident to your local FBI offices, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Clerk of Court in your area.

Additional information about the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina can be found at https://www.ncwd.uscourts.gov/contact-us.