Fake Interpol Email Extortion
Scammers send emails pretending to be from Interpol or another police unit, claiming you committed an “administrative offense.” They attach a fake letter with logos and official language, threaten arrest within 48 hours, and tell you to reply to a specific email address to “justify” yourself. Once you engage, they pressure you to pay a “fine” or hand over personal details. This is meant to scare you into acting quickly.
How this scam works
- 1
Step 1: You receive an email that looks official (Interpol logo, legal wording) with a subject like “Update on an ongoing administrative offense.”
- 2
Step 2: The message asks you to open an attached document that cites a made-up case number and a short deadline (often 48 hours).
- 3
Step 3: The attachment instructs you to reply to a non-official email address to avoid arrest or public exposure.
- 4
Step 4: If you respond, the scammer ramps up the fear and demands payment (sometimes via bank transfer, crypto, or gift cards) or sensitive information to “close the case.”
- 5
Step 5: If you ignore them, the threats continue for a while and then stop. Real law enforcement does not work this way.
✓ Do this
- Stay calm. Real police do not email threats or demand payment by email.
- Delete the email without replying. If you opened the attachment, run a security scan.
- Verify concerns directly with your local police using phone numbers from their official website.
- Keep a copy (screenshots) if you plan to report it.
✗ Avoid this
- Do not reply to the sender or the contact email in the attachment.
- Do not pay any “fines,” buy gift cards, or send crypto to resolve this.
- Do not open unknown attachments or click links from unexpected legal threats.
- Do not share your full name, ID numbers, bank details, or passwords.
Different versions of this scam
1 exampleQuick tip: Verify independently
Don’t call numbers or click links in unexpected messages. Go directly to the company’s official site or app and contact support from there.