The U.S. Marshals Service may look for someone to execute an arrest warrant, locate a fugitive, carry out a court order, or perform another assigned federal duty. It also protects the federal judiciary, handles prisoners, and serves authorized process. Contact does not always mean the person is a newly charged federal defendant: the reason could concern another person, a court-related matter, or assistance in an investigation. [1]
Rules that determine the answer
A telephone caller claiming to be a marshal may also be an impersonator. Federal court and Marshals warnings describe scams using real officials’ names, badge numbers, courthouse addresses, and spoofed caller ID. A demand to buy gift cards, use a Bitcoin ATM, or transfer money to avoid immediate arrest is a major warning sign. Verify the communication through an independently located court or agency contact rather than the number supplied by the caller. [2]
Section 566 describes the Service’s responsibilities, including executing lawful writs, process, and orders and locating and apprehending certain fugitives. [1] Public wanted-person pages are not a complete warrant database, so absence from a website does not prove there is no warrant. Likewise, a sealed matter may not be fully visible in a public docket. A lawyer can investigate the available court information without relying on an unsolicited caller’s account.
What to do next
- Write down the claimed name, office, court, case number, and purpose without providing sensitive financial information or making a payment.
- Find the relevant court clerk or district Marshals office through an official government site and independently verify the claimed contact or court matter.
- If there may be an actual warrant or criminal investigation, contact defense counsel promptly to examine the docket and arrange any required appearance or surrender.
- If the communication is fraudulent, preserve the message and payment instructions and report it through the official fraud-reporting channels identified by the court or agency.
Practical example
A caller says missed federal jury service created a warrant and demands $2,000 in prepaid cards. The target should independently contact the court, not pay the caller. In a different situation, counsel confirms an actual supervised-release proceeding and warrant. That requires attention to the court case; recognizing common scams does not establish that every claimed warrant is false.
For related situations, see federal detainer time limits and federal supervised-release violations.
Primary sources
- 28 USC 566: U.S. Marshals Service powers and duties
- U.S. Marshals Service: threatening phone scams and independent verification
Sources checked: October 31, 2026.