Jan. 8, 2026 — Seattle The U.S. Marshals Service in the Western District of Washington alerted residents to an ongoing imposter scam where fraudsters spoof the Seattle USMS office phone number and send fake emails demanding prepaid debit cards, gift cards or Bitcoin payments to avoid arrest for alleged missed jury duty or warrants, according to a U.S. Department of Justice press release.
Acting U.S. Marshal Jacob Green emphasized,
“We want people to know these calls are scams. The United States Marshals Service will never call the public to request sensitive information for any purpose.”
Scammers pose as marshals, court officers, or judges, providing real badge numbers, case numbers, names of actual officials, and courthouse addresses to appear credible.
Victims are instructed to buy cards like Green Dot and read numbers over the phone or pay via wire transfer or Bitcoin.
Redmond Reporter coverage on Jan. 6, referencing a Jan. 5 DOJ release, detailed fraudulent emails mimicking local district warrants with judge signatures and a “Did you know” section promoting Bitcoin payments. The Seattle Times reported similarly the same day, noting spoofed calls from government agencies.
Officials urged verification by contacting the U.S. Marshals Service at 206-370-8600, Seattle Clerk’s Office at 206-370-8400, or Tacoma Clerk’s Office at 253-882-3800.
Suspected victims should report to local FBI offices and file complaints with the Federal Trade Commission, which shares fraud patterns with law enforcement.
Key reminders from the release include: U.S. Marshals never request credit/debit/gift card numbers, wire transfers, bank info, or Bitcoin; do not share personal or financial details with unknown callers; reports can be anonymous.
The alert follows similar past scams but highlights new email tactics and cryptocurrency demands, as covered by local outlets including Federal Way Mirror and Seattle Weekly.
A South Snohomish County Crime Watch account shared the Seattle Times story on Jan. 7.
