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uk Legal, police, prison & official contact notice phone number linked to case • notice email linked to case • official notice must respond • police case contact message • legal notice by text • legal notice by email • suspected police impersonation • spoofed caller id police • unknown case reference number • unexpected official deadline • “you must respond” message • scam pretending to be police • court or solicitor impersonation • prison or probation impersonation • number used in investigation • email used in investigation • asked to confirm identity urgently • asked to click link to respond • asked to download documents • asked to pay to “clear” case

What to do if…
you receive an official notice that your phone number or email is linked to a case and you must respond

Short answer

Pause and treat it as unverified until you confirm it through an official channel you find yourself (not any link/number in the message). If it’s genuinely police-related and involves questioning, ask for proper process and legal advice before answering anything.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t click links, open attachments, scan QR codes, or install “secure reply” apps from the notice.
  • Don’t call back a number from the message or trust caller ID (it can be spoofed).
  • Don’t confirm personal details (date of birth, address), send ID photos, or share one-time passcodes.
  • Don’t pay any “fee”, “fine”, “clearance”, “bail”, or “verification deposit” to make the case “go away”.
  • Don’t get pulled into a long chat “to prove innocence” or “help the investigation” on the spot.
  • Don’t delete the message yet (you may need it to report).

What to do now

  1. Stop and capture what you received. Take screenshots (including the sender address/number), and write down the date/time, any reference number, names used, and exactly what they’re asking you to do.
  2. Assume it may be a scam until proven otherwise. “Must respond today”, “warrant”, “final warning”, and payment demands are common in impersonation scams.
  3. Verify using a route you choose, not theirs.
    • If it claims to be police: use a police force’s official website to find a main contact route, or call 101 (UK non-emergency). Ask whether the named officer/unit is real and what the safe next step is. They may be limited in what they can confirm about any case.
    • If it claims to be a court or another public body: find the organisation’s official contact details (for example via GOV.UK where relevant) and ask how genuine notices are served and how to confirm authenticity.
  4. If police want to speak to you, move it into a formal channel. You can say: “I’m willing to cooperate, but I’m not answering questions by text/email/phone. Please arrange contact through official channels.”
  5. If you’re asked to attend an interview or be questioned at a station, ask for free legal advice. You can request the duty solicitor and speak to a solicitor before answering questions.
  6. Report the message through UK reporting routes.
    • Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk.
    • Forward suspicious texts to 7726 (free) to alert your mobile provider.
    • If you’re in England, Wales or Northern Ireland: report fraud/impersonation via Report Fraud (Action Fraud).
    • If you’re in Scotland: report fraud/impersonation to Police Scotland (101).
  7. Lock down your accounts in case the notice was a lure. Change passwords for the email account involved, turn on two-step verification, and check for new forwarding rules or “recovery” email/phone changes you didn’t make.
  8. If you already replied or shared anything, act quickly. Stop further contact, change passwords, contact your mobile provider if you suspect account takeover/SIM swap, and report (step 6) with details of what you shared.

What can wait

  • You do not need to write an “explanation” or assemble a full timeline right now.
  • You do not need to decide whether you are a suspect, witness, or victim based on a message.
  • You do not need to hand over devices/accounts “for checking” because someone demanded it in a notice.
  • You do not need to negotiate with the sender or “clear it up” immediately.

Important reassurance

It’s normal to feel a jolt of fear when a message mentions police, courts, or prison. Scammers rely on that rush to make people comply quickly. Verifying first is a protective step that doesn’t put you at a disadvantage if the contact turns out to be genuine.

Scope note

These are first steps to prevent panic-driven mistakes and move the situation into a verifiable, proper process. If it becomes a real legal matter, you may need personalised legal advice.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. Processes vary across the UK and by situation. If you believe there is an immediate threat or an emergency, call 999.

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