Imagine this. Your boss calls and asks for your help. It’s urgent. It’s definitely him: you can see and hear him clearly.
But what if it isn’t? Deepfake technology has evolved rapidly. AI can now replicate real faces, voices and behaviours using just a few photos, videos or audio clips found online.
The threat extends beyond the workplace; scammers can impersonate friends and family, preying on emotion and creating a false sense of urgency to make you act quickly.
So what should you do?
🔵 Don’t rush. Even if you believe you’re speaking to someone you trust, take a moment to assess the situation.
🔵 Verify. Hang up and call the person back on their usual number.
🔵 Use a safeword. Establish a secret phrase with close contacts.
🔵 Secure your accounts. Turn on two-factor authentication everywhere. Activate multi-step verification for large business transactions.
🔵 Report it. If you suspect a scam, contact local law enforcement immediately.
🔵 Train your teams. Business owners: make sure your staff are trained to recognise phishing, vishing and other social engineering tactics.
Wait. Validate. #DontTakeTheBait
Find out more ➡️ 🔗 https://t.co/Jjid1gXbyZ
Funded by 🇯🇵
🚨 95 arrests across 17 countries in operation targeting the distribution of child sexual abuse material
The arrests have come as part of parallel law enforcement operations in Latin America and Europe, each targeting a different aspect of the dissemination and commercialization of child sexual abuse content through messaging applications and cryptocurrencies.
These platforms are increasingly used to groom children, coordinate abuse, connect offenders and receive payment for illegal content. They also enable the recirculation of abuse content, resulting in continued revictimization of children.
The INTERPOL-coordinated initiative led to the execution of 127 search warrants and the rescue of one child. Material seized during the investigation is expected to lead to further identifications of offenders and children at risk, as well as additional safeguarding action.
➡️🔗 https://t.co/XVLoyzbKQD
The Americas are stepping up the fight against corruption. 🤝
55 law enforcement officials, prosecutors and financial intelligence specialists gathered in San José, Costa Rica, for INTERPOL's Regional Conference on Anti-Corruption for the Americas.
Representatives from 19 countries met to:
🔵 Exchange operational experience
🔵 Strengthen intelligence-sharing mechanisms
🔵 Identify opportunities for coordinated action
Participants also explored practical ways to identifying corruption networks, tracing illicit financial flows and tackling the challenges of cross-border investigations.
Members of INTERPOL’s Disaster Victim Identification team have recently returned from Nepal, where they supported authorities following the devastating August floods.
In close cooperation with the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Kathmandu, our DVI experts provided strategic recommendations on the establishment of a reconciliation centre, in line with international matching standards.
This work came as a complement to the efforts of international DVI teams, which have been working closely with Nepalese authorities to identify victims.
@NepalPoliceHQ
🚨 2,800 illegal firearms and 40,000 pieces of ammunition seized
Operation Trigger X was conducted across 17 countries and highlighted the long-term impact of conflict stockpiles on firearms trafficking.
Preliminary operational results indicate that a substantial amount of the illegal weaponry seized was linked to former or ongoing armed conflict zones, including the Balkan region, eastern Europe and Nagorno-Karabakh.
Multiple Soviet-era firearms were also seized or voluntarily surrendered in Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
Member countries reported 152 arrests, including the interception of 15 INTERPOL Notice subjects.
➡️ 🔗 https://t.co/OtVJhYW3s1
This week at the INTERPOL Global Conference on Drugs and Illicit Substances, more than 230 heads of national drug agencies, investigators and frontline specialists compared what is actually working against a market that keeps adapting.
Representing 106 countries, they shared national efforts, best practices and common challenges.
Beyond plenary sessions, bilateral meetings helped move forward individual cases and explore future operational efforts to dismantle networks and cut off trafficking routes.
INTERPOL will keep bringing what this conference builds to every member country: a trusted global information hub, analysis capabilities, coordinated operations and specialized expertise, so that law enforcement can target the manufacture and distribution of illicit drugs further up the chain.
🔎 This rare book designed by Salvador Dalí, stolen this week from a museum in central France, has been added to INTERPOL Stolen Works of Art Database.
The Book of the Apocalypse is now visible to all registered users of the database, which includes police, art professionals and the general public.
➡️ 🔗 https://t.co/e6z3iQs03d
Officers from Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone are in Tokyo this week for a high-level workshop on financial crime countermeasures.
Discussions are focusing on anti-money laundering, fraud investigations, cryptocurrency-related crime and emerging financial crime threats.
Jointly organized by the INTERPOL Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre and @jica_direct, the event is a valuable platform for senior officials of financial intelligence and anti-financial crime units to develop international police cooperation mechanisms and common strategies.
🚨 233 arrested in environmental crime crackdown
An operation across 9 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean targeting deforestation, illegal mining and wildlife trafficking networks has led to:
🔵 More than 1,000 live animals recovered
🔵 60,000 hectares of illegally-cleared forest identified
🔵 312 suspects identified
🔵 313 seizures, including cyanide, mercury and ammunition
Across the region, reptiles, including python, rare insects and exotic birds accounted for most wildlife recoveries, as well as notable seizures involving big cats and primates. Some 165 kgs of dried shark fins with an estimated value of USD 280,000 were also seized.
INTERPOL Red Notices, Blue Notices and Purple Notices were also issued to help identify, locate and arrest suspects connected to the network.
➡️ 🔗 https://t.co/ijCfviGzbL
🚔 Go behind the scenes with law enforcement officers as they take on the networks behind the illegal drug trade.
Operation Lionfish-Mayag IV seized 86.9 million fatal doses of synthetic drugs with an estimated value of USD 1.1 billion.
➡️🔗 https://t.co/VGDvEUX2nQ
🚨 Expanding ketamine and vape-based drug market exposed
A law enforcement operation targeting the synthetic drug market has seized 650 tonnes of drugs, precursors and pharmaceutical products.
The landmark operation, in terms of seizure volume, represents 89.6 million fatal doses removed from consumer markets.
Other key figures:
🔵 17 participating countries
🔵 7,247 seizures
🔵 USD 1.1 billion estimated value
For the first time in an INTERPOL operation targeting synthetic drugs, ketamine overtook methamphetamine in terms of volume, with 17 tonnes seized.
This shift reflects a global pattern of increasing non-medical ketamine use, driven, in part, by lower prices and easier manufacturing compared to other drugs. Ketamine seizure data shows large-scale manufacturing and trafficking in Southeast Asia as well as European-sourced postal supply chains feeding markets in Australia and the United States.
The operation also saw notable seizures of etomidate and DMT intended for use in vapes, pointing to a rapid shift in the synthetic drug trade.
Funded by the Republic of Korea 🇰🇷
➡️ 🔗 https://t.co/UJCkGBM67R
Arrest in Colombia 🇨🇴 of a fugitive wanted by Australia 🇦🇺 for drug trafficking and money laundering.
An operational success thanks to seamless cooperation between @PoliciaColombia and @AusFedPolice 🤝
#EsNoticia | Retenido en Antioquia ciudadano extranjero requerido por narcotráfico
En Copacabana, #Antioquia, a través de nuestra @DIJINPolicia, en articulación con la Policía Federal Australiana, materializamos la retención con fines de extradición de un ciudadano extranjero, requerido por las autoridades judiciales de Australia y con Notificación Roja de @INTERPOL_HQ por los delitos de tráfico de drogas y lavado de activos.
El ciudadano extranjero, considerado un objetivo de alto valor, fue ubicado en un centro asistencial cuando pretendía evadir el cerco de las autoridades.
Con este resultado fortalecemos la cooperación internacional y contribuimos a desarticular las redes transnacionales dedicadas al narcotráfico y lavado de activos, reafirmando que Colombia no es refugio para quienes son requeridos por la justicia internacional.
#DiosYPatria
Criminal and terrorist actors are exploiting emerging technologies, global supply chains and trafficking routes to obtain and divert chemicals of concern.
🇵🇦 To reinforce the international response, representatives from 110 countries met in Panama for the Global Congress on Chemical Security and Emerging Threats.
🔗 Find out more: https://t.co/zWLwAYguxE
📍Media invitation for the 94th session of the INTERPOL General Assembly
This year’s INTERPOL General Assembly will take place from 30 November to 3 December in Hong Kong, China.
🔗 Information and media accreditation: https://t.co/sqx0t1nPjC
The latest issue of INTERPOL Spotlight is out now 🔦
With 196 member countries, INTERPOL is the voice that speaks on behalf of the global law enforcement community.
This edition of our newsletter highlights how our operational teams, analysts and experts in human trafficking, cybercrime and financial crime have brought the shocking threat of scam centres to the world’s attention.
🔗 Read and sign up here: https://t.co/cCSecIyWDj
INTERPOL is pleased to note the adoption of the Abu Dhabi Declaration at the 15th UN #CrimeCongress. The text recognizes the extensive role of INTERPOL’s tools and capabilities, including the Silver Notice pilot, to support law enforcement cooperation and trace criminal assets.
Our experts will be speaking at a number of high-level Congress events on environmental crime, human trafficking, cybercrime, fraud and illicit money flows.
We’re also hosting ancillary meetings on:
🔵 Cross-sector collaboration in criminal analysis: 28 Sept
🔵 Scam centres: 30 Sept
🔵 Innovation: 1 Oct
We look forward to meaningful discussions and conversations throughout the week 🤝
"Ultimately we all want the same thing: to help officers prevent crime, investigate it and bring criminals to justice. Our structures should make that work easier rather than add complexity.
That means clear channels, standard procedures, tools that work together and making the best possible use of what already exists.
That is why having all the key stakeholders around the table today matters.”
Lucas Philippe, President of INTERPOL
Wendell Blanhum, Deputy Commissioner Guyana Police, in his concluding remarks at the 27th Americas Regional Conference:
"As you leave our country, I ask you to take with you not only the decisions and recommendations, but the spirit of Georgetown. A spirit that says: in the Americas, no country stands alone against transnational crime.
The rivers that meet in Guyana remind us that different streams, when joined, become stronger."
➡️ What are the biggest threats testing police forces across the Americas today?
We spoke to @PDI_CHILE, @PoliciaEcuador, Bahamas @RBPFPolice, Canada’s @grcrcmppolice and Costa Rica’s @oij_Organismo
———
➡️ ¿Cuáles son los principales desafíos que enfrentan las fuerzas policiales en las Américas en la actualidad?
Escuchamos las perspectivas de Chile, Ecuador, Bahamas, Canadá y Costa Rica.