"Federal Arrest Warrant – 2 Hours" Text Scam — US Marshals Impersonation
Federal arrest warrant notice — US Marshals impersonation with badge number for credibility
FEDERAL NOTICE: A warrant for your arrest has been issued by the US District Court. Failure to respond within 2 hours will result in immediate detention. Contact your case officer: 1-888-555-0217
SMS
Confirmed scam
Federal agencies — FBI, DEA, Marshals — never send arrest warrant notifications by SMS.
Typical victim loss: $500–$10,000
FTC Consumer Sentinel 2024 — government impersonation median $1,400; arrest threats drive above-median payments (FBI IC3 2024)
First seen
Feb 2025
Category
Government
Attack vector
SMS
Trigger
Panic / Urgency
4 red flags in this message
Federal agencies do not text arrest warnings
The US Marshals, FBI, and federal courts communicate via official mail, in-person visits, or formal legal process — never SMS.
2-hour / 60-minute deadline
Extreme time pressure to prevent verification. No real legal process gives you minutes to respond.
'Before agents are dispatched'
If agents were actually being dispatched, they would not call ahead.
Charges against your SSN
Criminal charges are filed against a person, not an SSN. This language reveals the fabrication.
What happens if you click
Phone call leads to payment demand: gift cards, Bitcoin, wire transfer.
Personal information collection: full SSN, DOB, address for 'case verification.'
Some victims pay $5,000–$25,000 to 'clear their record.'
Other versions of this message
Scammers rotate wording to bypass spam filters. All variations lead to the same outcome.
US MARSHALS: Active arrest warrant on file. Resolve by calling your case officer in the next 60 minutes.
FEDERAL ALERT: Criminal charges have been filed against your SSN. Call now before agents are dispatched.
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Frequently asked questions
Would the US Marshals really text you about an arrest warrant?+
Never. Federal arrest warrants are executed by agents arriving at your location. There is no phone call, SMS, or advance warning giving you time to pay a fine.
What should I do if I receive this text?+
Delete it. Do not call the number. If you're genuinely concerned about a federal matter, contact a lawyer or call the actual US Marshals Service at usmarshals.gov.
Why does this scam target certain demographics more than others?+
Seniors are primary targets because they may have less familiarity with how the legal system actually works and may be more easily intimidated by government authority language.
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Check your message →First documented: February 2025
Source: FTC Consumer Sentinel 2024 — government impersonation median $1,400; arrest threats drive above-median payments (FBI IC3 2024)
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