Can a debt collector pretend to be a lawyer, court, or NBI?
Last updated: 2026-07-10 · Educational content; not legal advice.
Short answer
No. Using a false representation or deceptive means to collect — posing as a lawyer, judge, court, sheriff, the NBI, or any government agency, or sending a fake "warrant," "subpoena," or "final notice" — is expressly prohibited by SEC Memorandum Circular 18 (2019), and impersonating a public officer can be usurpation of authority or official functions under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code. A genuine court process is served by a court sheriff, never by a collections agent over Messenger or SMS. Screenshot the fake document and report it; LabanPH shows you where.
Primary sources
Frequently asked
They sent me a 'warrant of arrest' over text — is it real?
No. Warrants are issued by judges and served by law-enforcement officers in person, not texted by a collector. A 'warrant' or 'NBI hold' sent over SMS or chat for an unpaid loan is fake and is itself a false representation banned by SEC MC 18.
How do I tell a real court notice from a fake one?
A genuine civil case is filed in a specific court with a docket number and is served by the court's sheriff or by registered mail, with the court's letterhead and the judge's or clerk's signature. If it arrives only through a collector's chat, treat it as fake and preserve it as evidence.
What can I do about the impersonation?
File with the SEC under MC 18 (false representation) and preserve the message; impersonating a lawyer or public officer can also ground a criminal complaint under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code.
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Your rights when a lender or collector harasses you, contacts your family, or threatens you — and how SEC MC 18 limits them.