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[–]cdm9002 540 points541 points  (0 children)

Be careful, I've had something like this before. that was a scam. The email was sent through a Google sites webapp so appeared to be from Google, but the link to the subpoena is malware.

[–]djt-5150 337 points338 points  (40 children)

To rule out a scam, contact Google (legal if possible), and verify the mail.

[–]Dull-Advertising-192[S] 104 points105 points  (39 children)

I did contact them but haven’t heard back yet. This is what the bottom half of the email said in regards to reaching out:

For more information about how Google handles legal processes, view our transparency report at http://www.google.com/transparencyreport/userdatarequests/legalprocess/.

Google is not in a position to provide you with legal advice or discuss the substance of the legal process. If you have other questions regarding this matter, you may wish to contact an attorney.

Reply directly to this email in any further communications regarding this matter. Any communications not sent as a direct reply to this email must contain the subject line “Attention Google Legal Investigations Support,” reference the case identification number, and be sent to usernotice@google.com in order to ensure the appropriate routing and processing.

Regards,
Legal Investigations Support
Google LLC

[–]Mediocre-Clue-9071 323 points324 points  (16 children)

That last paragraph screams scam. They tell you only to reply to the email because they don't want you to reach out to Google to find out it's a scam.

[–]Aishou_SK 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Except... this is precisely how google does this entire thing.

[–]fergy80 37 points38 points  (11 children)

I don't think that's what it says. It says if you send it another way that you have to reference the case number in the email subject.

[–]Mr_Badgey 68 points69 points  (1 child)

It’s a real form letter and account Google sends in response to a subpoena. The cases tend to be sealed so the notices often come several years later after the court order is lifted. If it came from the official usernotice account then it’s likely real. Official emails often get spoofed though so caution is still warranted.

You have a case number so you should be able to look it up through the court. That would be the easiest way to verify it. I think you can look up the case details through PACER?

[–]LEONotTheLion 4 points5 points  (0 children)

PACER like won’t have anything if no one has been charged.

[–]Dangerous_Proof_820 28 points29 points  (0 children)

also do not contact back from email or links in the message lookup contact contact info

[–]AbjectMaelstrom 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Why is the Google address provided an http vs. https?

[–]Killawatts13 9 points10 points  (1 child)

Please post the From email

[–]ioioooi 12 points13 points  (3 children)

LLC huh

[–]BirdMore9261 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Something I learned if u hover over the link and the link changes it’s a scam, also look at the name the email comes from fbi wouldn’t email u they would just take your shit

[–]Professional-Salt727 80 points81 points  (3 children)

I'm not an attorney and this isn't legal advice, but I say don't worry.

Since it's a federal court case, you usually would be able to go on the PACER system and look up the case by number. However, grand jury subpoenas and related pre-indictment special proceedings are typically sealed and will not appear in public searches. The AO number tells you the type of subpoena. Given they were looking for records, it likely was an AO88B that was served on Google.

When federal agencies execute a targeted warrant on a primary suspect's main Google account, they typically execute physical search warrants or arrest warrants before or around the time the data is seized to prevent the destruction of evidence. Since this request was fulfilled mid-2023 and years have passed without federal agents knocking on your door, it strongly indicates you were not the focal point of the investigation.

[–]Professional-Salt727 37 points38 points  (1 child)

To further add: Invesgiators often use broad legal demands like geofence warrants by requesting data for all devices in a specific physical radius at a specific time or IP address sweeps (demanding records of everyone who visited a specific domain or communicated with a target).

If your device happened to be in the vicinity of an incident under investigation or if your email was on a compromised mailing list, your metadata would automatically be included in Google's disclosure batch.

[–]GravyeonBell 40 points41 points  (0 children)

OP also noted they are from DC and that the case was opened in 2021. If they happened to be within half a mile of the capitol on January 5th or 6th there were a looooot of geofence/legal returns requested for that area then, for obvious reasons.

[–]Thek1tteh 0 points1 point  (0 children)

An AO88B is for a civil action, not a criminal action.

https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/ao088b.pdf

You may be correct that it is an AO form, but criminal proceedings will not use a civil subpoena. If it was a subpoena in a criminal action, it is an AO89B

[–]aaronw22 106 points107 points  (8 children)

These are legit. Sometimes the FBI request will be something like “show me all cell phones that were active within 1000 feet of X location on Y date”lunar Z time”. You were caught up in the sweep, presumably checked and then discarded. You don’t need to do anything

[–]Notthatandy 22 points23 points  (3 children)

This particular type of warrant, usually known as a geofence warrant has been recently ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in the US. The case is Chatrie vs the US, and was decided 6-3 in June of 2026. With specific regards to Google, they have largely been irrelevant for the last 3 years or so since your location history was moved from Google Server side to your devices. If a warrant like that was presented to Google anytime in the last few years, the response would be that they don’t have the information.

[–]eodtek 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Geofence warrants were not ruled unconstitutional. If you’re going to cite Chatrie, please at least read it.

[–]pfc9769 11 points12 points  (1 child)

I got one of these and it was related to a subpoena that had a bunch of email addresses including mine. I never found out what it was for exactly and nothing ever came of it. So I can at least confirm Google does send out these form letters.

[–]Left-Literature-7543 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This sounds useful. This should not be a comment of a comment. You should reply directly to the post.

[–]Any-Schedule8011 76 points77 points  (6 children)

I've gotten this from Google before but I only got it well after being arrested. Like several months later.

So from my own experience I think this means you were under investigation for some reason but they concluded that without charges. I cannot guarantee this but it's what makes sense from my own experience.

[–]Competitive-Weird-10 16 points17 points  (5 children)

Are you serious?

[–]LavishnessCapital380 36 points37 points  (3 children)

My understanding is they cant inform you until the investigation is closed.

[–]Dull-Advertising-192[S] 6 points7 points  (2 children)

Is there a way to find out what they were investigating?

[–]Thelongestguy 20 points21 points  (1 child)

if there's a federal case and you have the number you can search it via PACER

[–]eyeonchi 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Only cases where doj indicted a suspect would be in pacer. If it's an ongoing investigation pre-indictment of a closed investigation that never resulted in an indictment, there are no records in pacer.

[–]edward_glock40_hands 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Nah he's just jokin your ass!

But no, seriously, OP needs to fess up to what he did. These are real. 😂 I will confirm as well.

[–]eodtek 19 points20 points  (0 children)

In 2021 the FBI submitted one of the largest Geofence warrants ever in relation to the Jan 6 case (the Capitol and the pipe bombs). IF you were near those locations, on Jan 5 or 6, it may very well be related to that.

[–][deleted]  (6 children)

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    [–][deleted]  (4 children)

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      [–][deleted]  (2 children)

      [removed]

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        [–]Graham110 8 points9 points  (0 children)

        It's possible you could have gotten this because you happened to be in a certain area at a certain time. Nothing to do with you specifically.

        [–]Baww18 7 points8 points  (0 children)

        Why do people think this is a scam - they aren’t asking for anything. As a former prosecutor when we got account data we would always get an order directing the provider to not inform the account holder for x time. It’s standard practice.

        [–]DeadPiratePiggy 4 points5 points  (0 children)

        These emails are legitimate, service providers can be served a search warrant that has a no notification period. Google receives hundreds if not thousands of such legal requests a month. If everything is sealed you can assume the case is ongoing, there's not much to do here unless you receive a visit from the FBI. If that happens only answer questions that establish your identity (name, DOB, SSN, address, etc), then politely but firmly request an attorney before you make any statements then shut your yap. Don't make polite conversation or small talk as that can be interpreted as you resuming the conversation at which point anything you say can and will be used against you no matter how small or inconsequential. They may occur never or could occur a year plus down the road, there is a reason the feds have such a high conviction rate. They will wait years building a case until they're absolutely ready.

        [–]shawnzy 3 points4 points  (1 child)

        Can confirm, I’ve gotten one of these exact notices and it was during an investigation I knew of. I got this email a year later after a required gag order was no longer in effect.

        Mine happened June 2023 and I got the notice in 2024.

        [–]Dull-Advertising-192[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

        Do you mind sharing if you were the target of the investigation or if you were associated with someone who was being investigated?

        [–]SuchDogeHodler 4 points5 points  (0 children)

        Those dates correspond to evidence collected from J6......

        I don't think you need to worry... the data was collected in 2023.... if they were going to do something they would have done it by now.

        Look up the grand jury case number... if it's closed, then your good.

        [–]Dack_Blick 15 points16 points  (2 children)

        Have you done anything illegal using your Google/YouTube/Gmail accounts? 

        Have you been hacked at some point, a virus on your computer, or a compromised password? Check your email addresses with https://haveibeenpwned.com/ That is not a definitive answer, but it will let you know if there is an obvious issue. 

        [–]Dull-Advertising-192[S] 9 points10 points  (1 child)

        Nothing illegal. I have received a comprised password alert in the past but not sure if it was within this timeframe or not

        [–]pfc9769 1 point2 points  (0 children)

        Ive gotten one of these before. Confirmed it was real and nothing came of it. The fact the case was years ago means this wasn’t about you specifically. Probably
        Someone you had contact with or a site you accessed.

        [–]mfiasco 5 points6 points  (0 children)

        Keep in mind that you do not have to be guilty of a crime to attract the attention of the state. You can be targeted specifically despite breaking no laws. You can also be targeted tangentially because you’re close to someone else who they are interested in.

        Most likely it’s the latter, assuming you’re not involved in any resistance work or otherwise drawing attention to yourself. You were searched and discarded.

        Talk to a lawyer if you want.

        [–]AAAIIIYYYAAA 12 points13 points  (1 child)

        It’s real. You can reply back and they’ll give you the docs. I had one maybe 2 years ago.. Court docs didn’t say much other than being included with hundreds of other email’s

        [–]Dull-Advertising-192[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

        Did you ever find out what the investigation was?

        [–][deleted]  (1 child)

        [removed]

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          [–]RicooC 1 point2 points  (0 children)

          I would dismiss it. Sounds like BS. Legal authorities will contact you if they need you, not google.

          [–][deleted]  (1 child)

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            [–]jjamesr539 2 points3 points  (0 children)

            This is one of those things where if it affects you specifically, you already know why. Usually these pertain to another person that had contact with you at some point through your email.

            [–]cheweychewchew 1 point2 points  (0 children)

            This is bs. If you're under criminal investigation from the FBI to the point where there is a sealed indictment being reviewed by a grand jury and they've subpoened your gmail, do you really think that Google is gonna be the one to break it to you? You being the one with out even a speeding ticket?

            Cmon now. This is an obvious scam.

            [–]ConversationAfraid97 0 points1 point  (2 children)

            A real one provides you with a pdf/scan of the original subpoena and a list of email addresses etc

            Source: I’ve had one or two

            [–]Dull-Advertising-192[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

            Google just sent the subpoena with a list of redacted email addresses. Did you ever find out what they were investigating?

            [–]ConversationAfraid97 1 point2 points  (0 children)

            No I couldn’t be bothered to find out, if cops didn’t kick down ur door before the gag order expired ur all good

            [–]SuccessfulInternal40 0 points1 point  (0 children)

            Wasn't there something similar posted here a while back? (Can't remember the time frame.. maybe a year or something like that?)

            [–]ancora_impara 0 points1 point  (0 children)

            Location: DC answers this

            [–]KeyHedgehog8948 0 points1 point  (0 children)

            im not sure how Google would know or care or be able to follow up on a subpoena to first, not notify you, and then somehow know that a sealed case is now "able to be shared". seems weird.

            [–]Impossible_Fix_995 0 points1 point  (0 children)

            FBI is known to send demand letters to companies without warrants. I recommend listening to this darknet diaries episode/podcast about it: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5YxwcAQOOu0Al3wVRHJ4IN?si=eEOc1yJLQ5Wc43UDH4OEHw&utm_source=copy-link&sci=spotify%3Acard-config%3A5HiE2onyKnAlWrJ2iE058E

            [–]PassengerStreet8791 1 point2 points  (1 child)

            When you hit reply what’s the email that shows up on the To line?

            [–]GrapefruitNice3290 0 points1 point  (1 child)

            The biggest clue is always in the FROM email address.

            Post the email address that the email came from and let’s take a look!

            [–]goldwaterauhtwoo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

            You tell them to fuck all the way off unless they have a warrant

            [–][deleted]  (1 child)

            [removed]

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              [–]EssTEye -1 points0 points  (0 children)

              I would repost this to r/scammers.

              [–]Interesting-Plane300 -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

              scam.. there is no Google LLC

              [–]HauntingStatement428 -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

              More than likely a scam.

              [–]MathyArt -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

              The government and the FBI prefers on-paper/in-person way of notifying, especially about any seizures. And they already have all you data anyway. It's safe to ignore. Of you want a peace of mind, make inquiries (which you already did), but never use links/contact info in the email. 

              [–]RedRocket2025 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

              Contact FBI fraud department

              [–]illtww -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

              popp

              [–]LoneWolfAMG -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

              This is very likely to be a scam. Especially because they tell you to only reply directly to that email.

              [–]ar0nic -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

              Scam FBI doesn't send letters like this.

              [–][deleted]  (1 child)

              [removed]

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