us Legal, police, prison & official contact notice phone number linked to case • notice email linked to case • official notice must respond • law enforcement impersonation message • police case text or email • “you must respond” legal message • subpoena or summons scam • caller id spoofing police • government agency impersonation • federal court notice email • urgent warrant threat message • asked to click link to respond • asked to download legal documents • asked to pay to resolve case • number used in investigation • email used in investigation • asked to verify identity immediately • asked for ssn or otp code • suspicious case reference number • unexpected deadline notice

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

Don’t respond through the message. Verify independently using official agency/court contact info you find yourself, and if it involves questioning, clearly say you want a lawyer 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 trust caller ID, “badge numbers,” or “case numbers” provided only in the message.
Don’t share personal identifiers (SSN, date of birth), account logins, or one-time passcodes.
Don’t pay by gift card, crypto, wire, or instant transfer apps to “clear” or “close” a case.
Don’t explain your side by phone/text/email just to “avoid arrest” — urgency is a common manipulation tactic.
Don’t delete the message yet (you may need it to report).

What to do now

Save the evidence. Screenshot the entire message, sender details, any “case number,” the exact threats/requests, and the link text shown (do not click it).
Verify via official channels you choose.
- If it claims to be local/state law enforcement: contact your local police/sheriff using the published non-emergency number (or go in person) and ask if the outreach is legitimate.
- If it claims to be a federal agency: look up the agency’s official website and use its listed field office contact to verify the name/unit and get a safe next step.
- If it claims to be a court notice: contact the court Clerk’s Office using official court contact details. Be aware that U.S. courts warn they do not use calls/emails/texts to demand money or sensitive personal/financial info.
If someone tries to question you, set a boundary. You can say: “I’m not answering questions. I want a lawyer.” Then stop engaging.
Report the impersonation/scam.
- Report to the FTC (ReportFraud) for scam/government-imposter contact.
- Report to the FBI’s IC3 if it’s internet-enabled fraud/phishing.
- If it impersonates a court/jury duty situation, you can also notify the relevant court Clerk’s Office that scammers are using its name.
Secure your accounts right away (in case the notice was bait). Change the password for the email account mentioned, enable multi-factor authentication, and check for unauthorized forwarding rules or recovery info changes.
If you already paid or shared sensitive info, contain the damage.
- Contact your bank/card issuer immediately if you paid or shared card/bank details.
- If you shared SSN or identity documents, consider a credit freeze and fraud alerts with the major credit bureaus.
- If you suspect phone account takeover/SIM swap, contact your mobile carrier right away.

What can wait

You do not need to write a full statement or “prove” anything immediately.
You do not need to give remote access to your device or accounts because someone demanded it.
You do not need to pay anything “today” to prevent arrest — courts and law enforcement do not typically handle matters that way, especially via text/email.
You do not need to keep engaging to “clear it up”; verification comes first.

Important reassurance

Messages like this are designed to spike fear and urgency. A verification-first approach protects you whether it’s a scam or a real matter — and it prevents you from giving information that can’t be taken back.

Scope note

These are first steps to prevent panic-driven mistakes and move the situation into a verifiable, proper channel. If it becomes a real legal issue, get advice from a qualified attorney in your state.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. If you believe you are in immediate danger or there is an active emergency, call 911.

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