Fake Court Scammers Target Rhode Islanders

A new wave of scammers has hit Rhode Island, preying on unsuspecting residents with fake court calls.

The scammers, claiming to be representatives of law enforcement, are calling Rhode Islanders, attempting to acquire personal information such as Social Security numbers, dates of birth, etc., or payment of fines or fees over the phone for failure to respond to a subpoena.

In some cases, the caller may claim that an order has been issued by a federal Judge, using the names of an actual Rhode Island federal Judge specifically.

However, the calls are scam and recipients should not provide personal or financial information to the callers. Rhode Islanders are urged not respond to these callers in any way.

U.S. District Court orders are sent by U.S. Mail, and are not communicated to the recipient over the phone; the court will not contact you by phone to collect personal information.

Individuals who have questions about the authenticity of a court order or who receive a Court-related communication that you believe to be fraudulent or questionable should contact the United States District Court at (401) 752-7200.

The U.S. District Court and the United States Attorney’s Office are aware of this ongoing scam and are urging Rhode Islanders to be vigilant and take necessary precautions to protect themselves from these scammers.

Stay safe, Rhode Islanders, and never give out your personal or financial information to unknown callers.

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