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ACTIVE CRISIS

A scammer said they will call the police on me — what do I do now?

You're in the right place. This is one of the most common scam threats, and it is always a bluff. Real police do not work this way. A scammer threatening to "report you" or have you "arrested" unless you pay is using fear to extort money — that is the crime, and it is being committed against you.

In an active crisis?

  • Call your bank
  • Call the platform (Amazon, PayPal, MobilePay, etc.)
  • Call local police

Step 1 — Do not pay, do not engage

Do this now: Stop all contact with the scammer. Do not send money. Do not send gift cards, cryptocurrency, or bank transfers. Do not reply to their messages. Block them.

The threat to "call the police" or have you "arrested" is designed to create panic so you act before you think. It is a standard script used in extortion scams worldwide. The scammer cannot have you arrested — they have no relationship with any police force.

Important: Real police do not contact people through social media, WhatsApp, or email to demand payment to avoid arrest. Real law enforcement does not ask for gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers. If someone is doing this, they are a scammer — not a police officer.

Step 2 — Understand what they actually have

These threats typically fall into a few patterns:

  • Fake debt or fine — the scammer claims you owe money to the government, a court, or a company and will be arrested if you do not pay immediately. This is always fake.
  • Fake crime accusation — the scammer claims you have been accused of a crime (fraud, tax evasion, drug trafficking) and must pay to "clear your name." This is always fake.
  • Fake warrant — the scammer claims a warrant has been issued for your arrest. Real warrants are not communicated this way.
  • Threat after a scam interaction — you were involved in a scam (romance, job, investment) and the scammer is now threatening to report you to police for "participating." This is a manipulation tactic. You are the victim.

Important: If you are worried there is any real legal issue, contact a lawyer or your national legal aid service directly — not through any number or link the scammer gave you.

Step 3 — Preserve evidence

Do this now: Before you block the scammer, take screenshots of all their messages, their profile, and any accounts they used to contact you. Note the dates, platform, and any phone numbers or email addresses they used. You will need this when you report.

Step 4 — Report it

Report the scammer to the authorities in your country. Extortion and impersonation of law enforcement are serious crimes.

You're safer once you've done this: You did not pay. You blocked the scammer. You saved the evidence. You reported it. The threat was empty — and you called their bluff.

What happens next

In almost all cases, scammers who are blocked and not paid move on. They are running a volume operation — they send the same threat to many people and rely on fear to collect from a small percentage. When you do not pay, you are no longer a useful target.

This is not your fault. These scams are designed to exploit the fear of legal consequences — a fear that is natural and that the scammer deliberately triggers.

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This page was last reviewed: June 26, 2026.
Crisis pages are drafted with AI assistance, then reviewed line-by-line by the editor, sourced against official reporting authorities, and tested for tone and clarity before publication.