Phone and Mail Scam Alert

In various parts of the United States, citizens are being targeted by phone calls and mail to coerce recipients into providing payments or confidential data, potentially leading to identity theft and fraud. These calls and letters are not from real court officials.

Federal courts do not require anyone to provide any sensitive information in a telephone call. While most contact between a federal court will be through the U.S. Mail, any phone contact by real court officials will not include requests for social security numbers, credit card numbers, or any other sensitive information.

It is a crime for anyone to falsely represent himself or herself as a federal court official. The federal judiciary takes seriously such an offense. Persons receiving such a telephone call or mail should not provide the requested information, and should notify the Clerk of Court's office of the U.S. District Court in their area.