02/16/2026
SCAM ALERT – DO NOT FALL FOR THIS 🚨
This scam makes the rounds every year, and unfortunately, people still lose money to it.
Scammers will call you claiming to be from a law enforcement agency, telling you that you missed a court date, have a warrant, or owe a fine. They’ll then pressure you to pay immediately to “clear it up.”
Let me be very clear:
No legitimate law enforcement agency will EVER call you and demand payment over the phone for a fine or missed court date.
These scammers are convincing. They can even “spoof” the phone number so it appears to be coming from the sheriff’s office, police department, or courthouse.
👉 What you should do if you get one of these calls:
• Hang up immediately
• Do NOT provide any personal information
• Do NOT send money
• Look up the agency’s official phone number yourself
• Call them directly to verify
Do NOT trust the number that called you.
I spent over 25 years in law enforcement, and we never called people demanding money for fines or missed court. Those matters are handled through the judicial system—not over the phone.
If something feels off, it probably is.
Stay alert. Stay informed. And please share this so others don’t become victims.
— Benjamin Burke
Burke Investigations & Consulting LLC
