A call claiming there's a warrant for your arrest is designed to do one thing: frighten you so badly that you stop thinking clearly. Whether the caller poses as the police, the courts, the Home Office or "border enforcement", the threat of imminent arrest is a pressure tactic, not a reality. UK police and courts simply don't operate this way. This guide explains the scam and how to stay calm and safe.

How the arrest-warrant scam works

The call is usually automated to begin with, then escalates to a live "officer":

  • The warrant threat. "There is a warrant out for your arrest in connection with financial crime. Press 1 to speak to the case officer before police are dispatched."
  • The court summons. A claim you've missed jury service or a court date and must pay a fine immediately to avoid arrest.
  • The immigration threat. A version aimed at migrants and students, threatening deportation over a "visa problem" unless a fee is paid at once.
  • The identity-crime story. Often merged with the National Insurance number scam - your details have been "linked to money laundering" and you must "verify" your bank to prove your innocence.

A realistic example:

A stern voice says: "This is a final notice from the National Crime Investigation Department. Your identity has been connected to multiple fraudulent accounts. Officers are being dispatched to your address. To resolve this now and avoid arrest, you must stay on the line and follow the officer's instructions." The "officer" then insists you withdraw cash, buy gift cards, or move money to a "secure government account" to "prove the funds are clean". All of it is fiction.

The caller may keep you on the line for a long time, forbid you from hanging up or talking to anyone, and even "transfer" you to a fake colleague - all to maintain the pressure and isolation.

Why it's always a scam

UK police and courts will never:

  • Phone to say there's a warrant for your arrest and offer to cancel it for a payment.
  • Demand money over the phone, in any form, to avoid arrest or prosecution.
  • Ask you to withdraw cash, buy gift cards, or transfer money to a "safe" or "government" account.
  • Insist you stay on the line and keep the matter secret.

Real legal matters arrive through official written processes, not threatening phone calls demanding instant payment.

What to do

  1. Stay calm and hang up. The fear is the weapon; ending the call disarms it. You will not be arrested for hanging up.
  2. Don't pay anything and don't share personal or banking details.
  3. Don't be rushed or isolated - it's fine to put the phone down and speak to family or a trusted friend.
  4. Verify independently if you're genuinely worried, by contacting the police on 101 - but understand that a real force will not have phoned you demanding payment.
  5. Report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 (Police Scotland on 101), and forward scam texts to 7726.
  6. If you paid or shared details, contact your bank immediately and follow what to do if you've been scammed.

The bottom line

The fake police call is pure intimidation. Once you know that no UK police force or court ever phones to demand payment to avoid arrest, the threat loses all its power. Hang up, don't pay, don't be isolated, and report it. If you feel shaken, talk it through with someone you trust - and remember that hanging up on a scammer never gets anyone arrested.

Frequently asked questions

Do the police call you about arrest warrants?

No. UK police don't phone to tell you there's a warrant for your arrest or offer to cancel one for a payment. Real legal matters come through official written processes. Any call threatening immediate arrest unless you pay is a scam - hang up.

Why does the caller tell me to stay on the line and not tell anyone?

To keep you frightened and isolated so you can't pause and check. Genuine authorities never demand secrecy or forbid you from hanging up. That instruction alone confirms it's a scam, so put the phone down and speak to someone you trust.

They asked me to move money to a "government safe account" - is that real?

No. There is no such thing. No government body, court or police force takes payment in gift cards, cryptocurrency or transfers to a "safe account". It's a theft - don't do it, and report the call to Action Fraud.

I paid a fake police scammer - what should I do?

Contact your bank immediately to try to stop or recover the payment, and report it to Action Fraud. Don't be embarrassed - these scams are designed by professionals to frighten anyone. Follow our scammed on the phone guide for the full steps.