1) What “Warrant Scam” Text Messages Are

A warrant scam text message (often called “smishing”—SMS + phishing) is a message designed to trigger panic by claiming that the recipient has a warrant of arrest, then pushing the recipient to “fix” the problem immediately—usually by paying money, clicking a link, sending personal information, or calling a number controlled by the scammer.

The psychology is simple: fear + urgency = mistakes.

Common scripts used in the Philippines

Scammers often claim to be from:

PNP, NBI, “Anti-Cybercrime,” “CIDG,” “Legal Division”
A Regional Trial Court (RTC) or “Court Administrator”
“Fiscal/Prosecutor’s Office,” “DOJ,” or “Barangay Legal”

And they may allege offenses that sound alarming:

Estafa, libel, “cyber libel,” “online scam complaint”
“Money laundering,” “identity theft,” “drug watch list”
“Gcash/Bank account linked to illegal activity”

What they usually demand

Payment via GCash / Maya / bank transfer / remittance
A “settlement fee,” “processing fee,” “clearance fee,” or “warrant cancellation fee”
Personal data (full name, birthday, address, IDs, selfies)
A click on a link that steals credentials or installs malware

The key reality

A real warrant of arrest is not “served” by text message. In the ordinary course, a warrant is implemented by law enforcement through arrest, not through a demand for payment or a private phone call.

2) What a Real Warrant of Arrest Is (and Isn’t)

Constitutional baseline

Under Article III (Bill of Rights) of the 1987 Constitution, warrants must be issued only upon:

Probable cause
Personally determined by a judge
After examination under oath/affirmation of the complainant and witnesses
And the warrant must particularly describe the person to be arrested

Procedural baseline

Under the Rules of Court (Rules of Criminal Procedure), a judge issues a warrant of arrest in criminal cases when the requirements for issuance are met (commonly after filing of an Information and judicial determination related to probable cause).

What a warrant of arrest is not

Not a “notice” that can be “settled” by paying a number on SMS
Not something that legitimate authorities “cancel” by asking for GCash
Not a document that a court normally sends to random phone numbers
Not the same as a subpoena, summons, or court notice

3) The Difference Between a Warrant, a Subpoena, and a Summons

Many scams succeed because people mix these up.

Warrant of Arrest

Issued by a judge
Purpose: authorizes law enforcement to arrest a person
Usually appears in a criminal case

Subpoena (Prosecutor or Court)

An order to appear or produce documents
A prosecutor’s subpoena often appears during preliminary investigation
Typically served formally (not as a “pay now” text)

Summons (Civil Cases)

A notice to answer a civil complaint
Civil cases generally don’t result in warrants of arrest just because someone is sued

“Warrant” threats for ordinary debt

The Constitution prohibits imprisonment for debt. Failure to pay a simple loan is not automatically a basis for arrest—though fraud-related acts (for example, estafa under certain circumstances) can lead to criminal liability. Scammers exploit this nuance by calling any obligation a “criminal case.”

4) Red Flags: Signs the Text Is a Scam

Treat it as highly suspicious if any of these appear:

Demand for immediate payment to “cancel,” “hold,” “fix,” or “stop” a warrant
Threatening language: “You will be arrested today,” “Final warning,” “Last chance”
Unverifiable identity: no complete office address, no case number, no court branch
Generic sender: random mobile number, weird email-to-SMS, or “Private Number”
Links to “case files,” “court portal,” “clearance,” “NBI verification”
Requests for sensitive info: OTPs, passwords, selfies holding ID
Pressure not to consult anyone: “Do not tell your lawyer/family”
Odd formatting: poor grammar, misspellings, inconsistent names/titles
“Settlement” with an officer: claims you can pay them directly to make it go away

A legitimate process does not rely on secrecy, panic, or mobile-wallet transfers to a personal account.

5) What a Genuine Warrant Typically Contains

A real warrant of arrest commonly contains:

The name of the court and branch (e.g., RTC Branch ___, City/Province)
The case title and criminal case number
The name of the accused (the person to be arrested)
The offense charged
The signature of the judge
The date of issuance and official formatting consistent with court documents

Practical note: Not every real warrant looks identical across courts, but a warrant should always be traceable to a specific court and case record.

6) How to Verify a Warrant of Arrest (Safest Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Do not comply with the text

Do not pay
Do not click links
Do not share OTPs or personal documents
Avoid calling the number in the message (it confirms your number is active and can lead to social engineering)

Step 2: Preserve evidence

Take screenshots showing:

Sender number
Full message content
Any link
Date/time received

This helps reporting and investigation.

Step 3: Verify through independent, official channels — not the contact details in the text

Option A: Verify with the issuing court (best “source of truth”)

If the message includes a court name/branch/case number:

Identify the court’s official contact information independently (not from the message).
Ask for the Office of the Clerk of Court.
Inquire whether a criminal case exists under your name and whether a warrant has been issued.
If possible, request guidance on how to obtain a certified true copy or official verification.

If the message does not include court/branch/case number, that is itself a major red flag. Verification then becomes “name-based” and may require more careful handling.

Option B: Verify with reputable law enforcement units (for guidance, not “payment”)

You may approach:

PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG)
NBI Cybercrime Division (or nearest NBI office)

Their role here is to address the scam and help confirm whether the message matches known patterns. They can also advise on appropriate reporting and documentation.

Option C: Verify through counsel (especially if you suspect a real case)

A lawyer can:

Conduct a proper case inquiry
Advise on next lawful steps (e.g., voluntary surrender, bail, motions)
Prevent you from being pressured into unsafe “settlements”

Step 4: If you learn a warrant actually exists

Do not attempt to evade. Lawful steps often include:

Coordinating with a lawyer for a safe, orderly surrender
Exploring bail if the offense is bailable
Checking case status, possible remedies, and ensuring rights are protected

The purpose here is not panic—it’s orderly compliance with due process.

7) If Someone Shows Up Claiming They Have a Warrant

Scammers sometimes escalate from SMS to in-person intimidation.

What to do (practical and rights-aware)

Stay calm. Keep distance. Don’t open the door wide to strangers.
Ask for identification: full name, rank/position, unit, and a valid ID.
Ask to see the warrant and check:
- Court and branch
- Your correct name
- Judge’s signature
- Case number/offense
Do not hand over money. There is no legitimate “cash settlement at your doorstep” for a warrant.
If you feel unsafe, call 911 or your local police station using numbers you obtain independently (or known official hotlines), and request verification.
If you are arrested by law enforcement on a genuine warrant, assert basic rights:
- Right to be informed of the cause of arrest
- Right to remain silent
- Right to counsel
- Right against unreasonable searches (a warrant of arrest is not automatically a search warrant)

A warrant of arrest authorizes arrest; it does not automatically authorize rummaging through devices or the home without lawful basis.

8) Why SMS “Warrant Clearance” Payments Are Almost Always Fraud

Courts do not “lift warrants” via SMS payment

In legitimate practice, a warrant may be:

Quashed/withdrawn/recalled only through proper court action, or
Addressed through arrest/surrender and then bail (when allowed), and court proceedings

Bail is handled through lawful channels

Bail (when applicable) is documented. Any demand to send money to a personal e-wallet to “avoid arrest” is a classic scam pattern.

9) Reporting Warrant Scam Texts in the Philippines

A practical reporting path:

Report to your telco (many have spam reporting mechanisms)
Report to PNP ACG or NBI Cybercrime
Keep your screenshots and any transaction details (if money was sent)

If money was sent:

Notify your wallet/bank provider immediately and request steps to attempt account freezing or dispute (results vary, but speed matters)
Preserve reference numbers, timestamps, and recipient details

10) Prevention: Reducing Your Exposure

Be cautious about posting your full name + birthday + address publicly (common data used to personalize scams).
Treat any “legal threat” message as unverified until confirmed through official channels.
Don’t reuse passwords; use multi-factor authentication (but never share OTPs).
Educate family members, especially those more vulnerable to urgent threats.
Be wary of “authority impersonation”: real agencies do not rely on fear-driven SMS for legal process.

11) Quick Verification Checklist (Copy-Paste Friendly)

When you receive a “warrant” text:

No payment, no link-clicking, no calls to the number in the text
Screenshot and save the message
Does it contain court + branch + case number + judge? If not, presume scam
Verify using independently found court contact details
If concerned about a real case, coordinate with a lawyer
Report to PNP ACG / NBI Cybercrime and your telco

12) Bottom Line

Warrant scam texts succeed by mimicking legal authority while replacing due process with urgency, secrecy, and payment demands. In the Philippine legal system, warrants are court-issued and case-traceable; their verification runs through the issuing court and lawful procedures—not through mobile-wallet transfers, threat calls, or links in a text.