FBI Warning Screen
The FBI warning screen prank shows a full-screen federal-lock notice — official-looking seal, a red "THIS DEVICE HAS BEEN LOCKED" headline, a case number, and a live recording timer counting up. It copies the ransomware-lock trope exactly, except nothing is locked and nothing is recording.
This is the straightest-faced of our scare pages: no skulls, no flashing, just bureaucratic menace. Prefer something louder? The fake virus alert goes full klaxon. Want the criminal version rather than the official one? The fake ransomware screen demands payment instead of citing a statute.
Press F11 for maximum realism. Tap or press Esc to exit.
Add the prank to their home screen and it runs like a real app — no browser bar, no tabs, no URL, nothing to give it away.
How to use the fbi warning screen prank
- Tap Launch Full-Screen Prank above (or press F11 once it's running).
- Leave the device where your victim will find it. It'll look completely real.
- When they panic, tap the screen or press Esc to reveal it was a joke.
For laughs only. Nothing here installs, downloads or damages anything — it's all harmless CSS/JS in the browser. It's a staple of April Fools' Day pranks and works any day of the year. Just keep it kind — see what makes a good prank.
Frequently asked questions
Is the FBI lock screen real?
No. It's a web page mimicking the bogus "FBI seized this device" warnings scammers have used for years. Nothing is locked, nothing is reported and no camera is on — close the tab and it's gone.
What is the FBI warning screen?
It's a prank version of a real scam. So-called "FBI MoneyPak" or police-locker malware would freeze a computer, accuse the owner of a crime, and demand a fine be paid to unlock it. The pages were designed to frighten people into paying before they thought to check. Ours is a harmless imitation of that look.
Is the recording timer actually using my camera?
No. It's a counter that starts at zero and ticks upward — the page never requests camera or microphone permission, and your browser would have to ask you first if it did. That prompt not appearing is your proof.
How do you get out of the FBI lock screen?
Tap the screen, press Esc, or close the tab. The device was never locked, so there's no code to enter, nothing to pay and nothing to undo.
Can I get in trouble for using it?
The page itself is harmless and legal, but this is the prank to be most careful with. Using it to make someone believe they are genuinely under investigation, or to pressure them into paying or handing anything over, moves it out of joke territory. Reveal it fast, and never use it on someone who'd be genuinely frightened by a law-enforcement accusation.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes — it fills the screen on both iOS and Android, and the seal-and-headline layout is built to stay legible on a narrow display. Adding it to the home screen strips the address bar for a cleaner effect.
Why does it say FBI rather than my own country's police?
Because the FBI version is the one the original scam made famous worldwide, and it reads as recognisable shorthand almost anywhere. The screen is deliberately generic beyond the seal, so it still lands outside the US as "official-looking trouble".
Will a virus scanner block this page?
There's nothing malicious to detect, but some network filters block pages containing words like "locked" and "FBI", so it may not load on restricted school or office Wi-Fi.