Alert : Fake court or bailiff summonses – the “justice” email trap with malicious attachments

Recently, supposedly official emails have been circulating: court, bailiff, or “justice” messages announce a summons, a complaint, or a seizure that can supposedly be narrowly avoided.
Stay vigilant: here’s how to spot it and avoid the traps.

Fake legal summonses by email (court, bailiff, justice)

The goal is to trigger shock and pressure you into opening a file or clicking a link, under the pretext of an urgent legal matter.

The modus operandi

Scammers send a very formal message, sometimes with a fake case file, a fake reference number, and a threat of penalties, to push you to “view the summons.”
Their aim is to install malware via an attachment, steal your credentials via a link, or extort money from you (fake fees, fines, or “regularisation” payments).
Warning signs: extreme urgency, immediate threats, non-official sender, unexpected attachment (zip, iso, docm), link to an unfamiliar website, request for payment or sensitive information by email.

Some advice:

• 📎 Do not open attachments or click any links if you are not certain of the source.
• ☎️ Verify the information through official channels (contact details found on an official website, not in the email).
• 🧾 Keep evidence (email, attachments, screenshots) without executing any files.
• 🛡️ Have the message analysed by your IT department if you are in a business environment.
• 🔐 If you have clicked, change your passwords and secure your accounts.

Conclusion

Summonses and legal procedures are not handled via a suspicious link received out of the blue: fear is the primary weapon of this scam.
Do not reply, verify, and report the attempt.
Consult our guide List of anti-fraud websites to help consumers to find useful resources.
Useful links: Action Fraud (UK) | NCSC – Report a cyber incident (UK) | IC3 – FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (US)

Written by : René Ronse
Methodology : Our alert articles are based on regular monitoring of national reporting platforms, feedback from victims, and statements issued by relevant authorities.
About the author : René Ronse, manager of ArnaqueOuFiable.com. Expert in consumer cybersecurity, specialist in detecting online fraud, product transparency, and digital compliance. He has over 20 years of experience analyzing hidden subscription mechanisms, unreadable terms and conditions, aggressive sales tactics, and deceptive commercial practices on the web.
Sources : belgium.be | federaalombudsman.be | ictrechtswijzer.be | courts.state.hi.us | europa.eu
Last updated : 9 January 2026.
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