The All Lanes Guide – How to tell if your process server is a fake

For any clever criminal, impersonating a process server is relatively easy, especially when they suggest that they are connect to the judicial system or to law enforcement.  If their target does not know the law, they will be at risk of losing their money, identity and personal security.

Here are 5 things that imitation process servers often do.

  1. REQUIRES PAYMENT FROM THE INDIVIDUAL BEING SERVED

The very first sign that you are dealing with a fake process server? They demand payment before service completion. Legitimate process servers never collect money from the document recipient.

Process servers are always paid by the person or entity that hired them to deliver a service. More importantly, your constitutional right to due process – i.e., being made aware of any legal action involving you—is not for sale.  When a fake server says that you will be in contempt of court if you do not pay them to accept your documents or that an arrest-warrant will be issued for you unless you obey with their demands.

Likewise, a reliable process server will never specify that they will conveniently fail to complete service in return for compensation.

  1. NEEDS TOO MUCH INFORMATION

It is the job of the process server to correctly identify and find individuals to serve them the needed court documents. This is normally easy for them to do, unless the person being served is being evasive.

By the time that a server is ready to complete the service, they have collected the information they need to complete service. Depending on the situation at hand, this might mean just an address, or, in the case of someone who is an evasive individual, it may mean information like when they usually get home, the colour and make of their vehicle, and even information like their favourite shopping centres and restaurants.

If a process server contacts you and asks for too much information (especially confidential information such an identity number), you are likely dealing with someone who is a fraud.

Interactions with a reputable process server should be very little.  The information that they require is verification of your identity, complete the document transfers, and leave.

  1. IS UNPROFESSIONAL

Whilst a process server should not ask you for too much information to effectuate service, you should also be cautious of a server who cannot answer your questions, who is rude or behaves in a aggressive manner.

Normally, the process server involved in your case should be able to show the docket number on your papers. This information should not necessarily be memorised, but a reputable process workers will be able to show you a case number or identify the courthouse where the case is filed.

  1. TRUST THE PROFESSIONALS

At All Lanes, we are well-trained professionals dedicated to getting the job done right. We understand that unprofessionalism is not only immoral to the persons being served but also potentially damaging to our clients, who need to know that their case is being handled correctly every step of the way.

Contact us for more information about expediting your case with professional process service you can trust.