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uk Legal, police, prison & official contact court text message scam • fake court payment link • court fine link not sure • suspicious court sms • hmcts impersonation message • urgent court payment demand • pay now court link • unknown court reference number • court notice looks real • message says warrant unpaid fine • bailiff enforcement text scam • government-looking payment page • clicked court link by mistake • gave details to court text • court email or text phishing • unexpected court contact • court summons by text • court fee demand message • is this court message real • tribunal payment link text

What to do if…
you receive a message claiming to be from a court with a payment link and you are not sure it is real

Short answer

Don’t click the link or pay. Verify independently by contacting the relevant court/tribunal using official contact details you find yourself (not from the message).

Do not do these things

  • Don’t click the payment link “just to see what it says” or enter any details.
  • Don’t reply to the message or call any number it provides.
  • Don’t let urgency (“pay today”, “warrant”, “final warning”) push you into paying before you verify.
  • Don’t share personal details (date of birth, NI number, address) to “confirm your identity” via text/email.
  • Don’t assume it’s real because it looks official — sender names and links can be faked.

What to do now

  1. Pause and treat it as suspicious by default. Scammers often impersonate courts and enforcement to create panic.
  2. Capture evidence safely: screenshot the message (showing the sender and the link), then stop interacting with it.
  3. Verify using official contact routes (not the message):
    • England & Wales (and some tribunals): use the GOV.UK Find a court or tribunal service to get the genuine contact details, then ask if anything is actually outstanding in your name.
    • Scotland: for most court matters, use Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service contact details (not the message) to verify. (The GOV.UK finder is limited in Scotland.)
    • Northern Ireland: use Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service contact details to verify. (The GOV.UK finder cannot be used for Northern Ireland.)
  4. Report the message:
    • Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM) to report it to your mobile provider.
    • If it’s fraud (or you’ve lost money), report it to Report Fraud (Action Fraud) if you’re in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland. If you’re in Scotland, report to Police Scotland (101 or online reporting for non-urgent matters).
  5. If you clicked the link or entered details:
    • Contact your bank/card provider immediately (use the number on the back of your card or your banking app) and say you may have entered details on a fraudulent payment page. Ask them to stop/flag payments and replace cards if needed.
    • Secure your email first: change your email password and turn on two-factor authentication, then change any other accounts that reuse that password.
    • If you downloaded anything, run a device security scan and avoid logging into banking until you’re confident the device is clean (get help from a trusted person if you’re unsure).

What can wait

  • You don’t need to decide now whether to “fight it” or “pay it” — first confirm whether it’s real.
  • You don’t need to analyse the website or the wording; verification via official contacts is safer.
  • You don’t need to contact multiple agencies at once: report it, and only take bank/account steps if you interacted with the link.

Important reassurance

It’s normal to feel a jolt of fear when a message mentions courts, fines, or warrants — that reaction is exactly what scammers try to trigger. Slowing down and verifying through official contact details is a safe, sensible response.

Scope note

This is first-steps-only guidance to reduce harm and prevent a rushed payment. If the court/tribunal confirms something genuine is outstanding, you may want specialist advice about next steps.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. Processes vary across the UK and by case type. If you feel at immediate risk, use emergency services.

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