Received an email from Interpol? Be careful, it is a Interpol email fake! Interpol does NOT send emails to individuals with demands for money transfers, international wanted notices or threats of arrest.
If you have become a victim of fraud, do not respond to messages or transfer money supposedly to pay fines. Our team of lawyers will help you understand the situation and protect your rights. Experienced specialists will analyze the situation and legally assess the legality of the publication of the alleged notices.
How Interpol communicates?
Interpol is an international organization that helps law enforcement agencies around the world cooperate in investigating and prosecuting criminals who have committed crimes beyond the borders of individual states. However, the Organization never interacts directly with individuals by email or other means.
Each of the 195 Interpol members has a National Central Bureau, which communicates with the General Secretariat in Lyon. Interpol can cooperate with UN structures, Europol and other law enforcement associations, but at the institutional level.
Important: all contacts occur between states and international structures, and not directly with citizens. How does Interpol contact you? Interpol does not contact individuals to notify them of their search, impose fines or demand payment of money. If you receive an email supposedly from Interpol, it is most likely a scam.
In addition, the Organization’s employees cannot use personal accounts to resolve work issues. Any messages that an “Interpol officer” or “Interpol representative” is writing to you from a private address (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) are deliberately false information. If you have any doubts about the legality of persecution or want to know how to avoid fraudulent schemes, contact us. We will provide qualified legal support and defend your interests!
Common Interpol Email Scams
Scammers are increasingly using the Interpol name and symbols to intimidate and extort by sending fake emails. The scammers understand that threats from the “international police” make a strong impression on potential victims. Let’s look at the most common schemes for using fake Interpol messages:
1. False international wanted notices
A potential victim receives a letter with the supposedly official logo of Interpol or other law enforcement agencies. It claims that the addressee is wanted internationally for a serious crime. The scammers demand that the recipient immediately contact a “curator” or “official representative”, and in some cases, pay a “fine” or “deposit” for stopping the search.
2. Rehabilitation fees or fines
The victim receives a message from Interpol demanding that they pay a fine for alleged offenses. Fraudsters use intimidation: they promise arrest, trial or a “permanent ban” from all banking systems. They insist on immediate payment (the terms are “24 hours”, “48 hours”) so as not to give the victim time to think. As soon as the victim
3. Phishing links and malicious attachments
Fraudsters send letters with arrest warrants or interrogation reports attached. When opening a file or clicking on a link to a phishing site, the victim’s computer is infected with a virus that steals personal data or passwords. Interpol will never send you personal documents or orders via email.
If you receive a Interpol fake mail, do not respond to it under any circumstances and do not enter into correspondence with the sender. Do not click on links or download attachments – it may be phishing or a virus. Report the incident to law enforcement agencies in your country if the letter contained threats or extortion.
Interpol Email Address: How to Contact Them Safely
Despite Interpol’s wide presence in the international field, many citizens do not know how to properly and safely contact the organization via email.
The main portal of the organization: www.interpol.int. On the site you can find general information about the structure, types of notifications, as well as official news.
Each Interpol member country has its own bureau, which is an “intermediary” between local law enforcement agencies and the Interpol General Secretariat. Contacts can be found on the official Interpol website or clarified with national law enforcement agencies.
The organization works through national bureaus and official channels, interacting primarily with law enforcement agencies. If you received a letter demanding payment of a “fine” or with a wanted notice from an “Interpol employee”, this is almost certainly a Interpol scam email.
The official addresses of Interpol employees end in @interpol.int, but Interpol does not use them to send letters to ordinary citizens. Any emails that allegedly come from such a domain should be carefully checked. Fraudsters can imitate the address by changing one letter or symbol.
The Interpol website does not have open emails for complaints or requests from individuals. All issues are resolved either through national bureaus or by personally contacting the law enforcement agencies of your country.
If you have information about a committed crime of an international nature or you believe that you are being illegally persecuted through Interpol mechanisms, first contact the law enforcement agencies in your country. If necessary, national structures will contact Interpol themselves.
In the “Contact” section on www.interpol.int you can find a form for requests or notifications, but it is primarily aimed at professionals (law enforcement officers) and journalists.
If you have any questions about interaction with Interpol or you have encountered controversial situations related to wanted notices, contact our law firm. Our specialists will help you understand the legal field, check the legality of requests and ensure your protection.
If you received an email or a phone call from anyone purporting to represent INTERPOL and asking for personal or financial information, you should disregard this request. It’s advised not to release any personal or bank account-related information. If, perchance such data has been shared, you should immediately contact your local law enforcement agency to establish the necessary steps forward.
