Spoofers are using the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana’s phone number and other information to intimidate and scam people.

Today, the Clerk’s Office began receiving phone calls from individuals who had been contacted by people claiming to be with the “court,” and whose number on the recipient’s caller ID appeared as the court’s actual main phone number (317-229-3729). The scammers are also using Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt's name to scare people into paying money to the scammer.

A court will never call someone and demand a payment. If you receive such a call, hang up immediately. You can then call the court directly at 317-229-3700, and legitimate court staff will verify that the victim does not owe any money.

Residents of the Southern District of Indiana who believe they have been the victim of such a scam are encouraged to report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov..

Here is additional information on things to remember, who to call, and what to do if you are contacted by a scammer:

• Authenticate an email or call by contacting the Clerk’s Office of the U.S. District Court in Indianapolis at (317) 229-3700 to verify that the court is not requiring any action from you and that the scam call did not come from the court.
• Do not divulge personal information or financial information to unknown callers, including those who claim to work for a government agency.
• A court will never ask for a credit/debit card number, gift card number, wire transfers, or bank routing numbers over the phone or by email for any purpose.
• A fine will never be imposed until after an individual has appeared in court and been given the opportunity to explain a failure to appear. 
• Report scams to the Federal Trade Commission.
• You can remain anonymous when you report.

Effective December 1, 2020, certain Federal Rules of Practice and Procedure were amended.  Links to the amended Rules are available on the United States Courts website. 

Roger A. G. Sharpe, Clerk of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, announced that the Clerk's Offices in the four divisions of the Southern District of Indiana are closed to the public, beginning today, November 23, 2020. The Clerk's Offices of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana are also closed to the public. These closures are in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, and specifically within the Southern District of Indiana. These limited closures will further protect the public and court staff while allowing all core functions of the Clerk's Office to continue.Please see the Press Release for further information. 

Chief Judge Jane E. Magnus-Stinson today issued a General Order that suspends all in-person jury trials in all divisions of the Southern District of Indiana until at least January 25, 2021. All Court-officiated naturalization ceremonies are also cancelled until January 25, 2021. To the extent this Order differs from previous orders of the Court on this subject, this Order supersedes and replaces those Orders.

Please read the General Order for specific details