Can Interpol issue a notice for a cybercrime in Dubai?

In the era of digital technologies, borders between countries are blurring not only for business but also for crimes. If you are suspected of cybercrime in Dubai, you might unexpectedly find yourself in Interpol’s international database. Many do not realize that even a single incident on the internet can lead to a red notice and arrest outside the UAE. Interpol actively cooperates with Emirati law enforcement agencies and does not require member countries to strictly verify evidence before issuing a notice. This is why it is important to understand how the system works and how to protect yourself from unwarranted persecution.

Our legal team assists clients who are under the threat of Interpol notices in the UAE. We assess the legality of the notice, file complaints with the CCF, interact with local lawyers and international organizations. If you are facing the risks of cyberstalking or have already become the subject of a notice—do not wait until it restricts your freedom of movement or damages your reputation.

All Interpol notice are distributed through National Central Bureaus, which operate in all member countries. The NCB serves as a link between Interpol and national law enforcement agencies, ensuring real-time communication and data transmission.

Interpol uses a color-coded notice system, each of which has its own purpose and designation:

It is important to remember that the presence of a notification does not prove a person’s guilt but can have serious consequences: from a ban on crossing borders to the freezing of bank accounts. Therefore, upon receiving information about a possible notification, it is worth immediately seeking legal assistance.

Interpol is actively combating cybercrime through the specialized Cybercrime Directorate, which was established to coordinate international efforts in the fight against digital threats. This division is based at Interpol’s Global Complex for Innovation (IGCI) in Singapore and collaborates with law enforcement agencies, technology companies, and research centers worldwide.

The main tasks of the INTERPOL Cybercrime Directorate include identifying, analyzing, and combating transnational cybercriminal activities, including phishing, malware distribution, hacking, ransomware attacks, as well as cryptocurrency-related crimes. The division also monitors cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure, financial institutions, and government systems.

Interpol provides member countries with access to operational information, digital forensics, and threat analysis, as well as assistance in identifying criminal networks and determining the sources of attacks. The organization conducts joint operations with national police forces aimed at neutralizing international hacker groups. For example, as part of operations Haechi-I and Haechi-II, Interpol achieved the arrest of hundreds of cyber fraud suspects and the freezing of millions of dollars transferred illegally.

In addition to operational activities, the INTERPOL Cybercrime Directorate is also engaged in training law enforcement agencies, developing standards for responding to cyber threats, and assisting in the development of digital security strategies. Through the Cybercrime Knowledge Exchange platform, law enforcement and partners exchange up-to-date information on new attack methods and defense mechanisms.

One of the striking examples is Operation Synergia, conducted in 2023 in cooperation with Europol, the FBI, and national agencies of more than 50 countries. This operation was aimed at suppressing the activities of groups distributing ransomware viruses, remote access trojans (RAT), and encryptors.

As part of Operation Synergia, more than 1,300 suspicious IP addresses associated with malicious servers and command infrastructure were analyzed. Interpol managed to identify dozens of suspects who organized attacks on banking institutions, government systems, and cryptocurrency exchanges. Numerous hosting providers supplying infrastructure for cyberattacks were blocked, and several individuals were detained.

One of the tasks of the operation was to identify international channels for laundering funds obtained as a result of attacks. Specialists used cryptocurrency transaction tracking tools and analyzed anonymous blockchain networks. As part of the coordination, Interpol sent notifications to member countries, and in cases of international threats, initiated special notices, including through INTERPOL I-24/7 channels and national bureaus.

Particular attention was paid to identifying the Command and Control (C&C) infrastructure, which was used to manage infected devices. It was possible to establish a connection between groups of attackers operating on different continents, which made it possible to gather evidence of their coordinated actions.

Depending on the nature of the crime and the request of the state, Interpol can issue different types of notices. A Red Notice is used in the most serious cases if a person is suspected of criminal cybercrime. Such a notice is a request for arrest and extradition and is initiated with an approved warrant.

Purple Notice is used when a country wants to warn other states about new methods of committing digital crimes: the use of new types of malware, extortion schemes, or ways to bypass protection. Such notices are intended for the exchange of intelligence information and are not directed at a specific individual.

The choice of notice directly depends on the request of the initiating country. In some cases, states limit themselves to a purple notice to avoid disclosing the investigation strategy, while in others, they demand an arrest through a red notice. Sometimes cybercrimes are classified as economic crimes, especially if it involves laundering digitally obtained proceeds. In such cases, the case may also be transferred to other structures, such as the Interpol Financial Crime Unit or Cybercrime Directorate.

Red Notice can be issued for the most serious cybercrimes. In the field of digital violations, this is primarily the distribution of attacks — when hackers block access to data and demand ransom in cryptocurrency. Such attacks increasingly affect not only private companies but also critical infrastructure: hospitals, power grids, municipal institutions.

Among the grounds for a Red Notice are hacking into secure servers, especially when it concerns financial institutions, databases with personal information, government resources, and national security systems. Interpol also responds to cases of large-scale extortion, including threats to publish confidential materials stolen using malware.

Another basis is the theft of personal data in particularly large volumes: passport numbers, credit cards, logins, passwords, biometric information. Such actions are classified as an invasion of privacy and may be accompanied by charges of fraud, money laundering, and involvement in organized crime. If the stolen data is used for sale on darknet platforms or applied in other criminal schemes, this increases the likelihood of an international search request.

Red Notice can also be applied in cases of financial theft committed using digital technologies, including hacking payment systems, unauthorized transfers of funds, and creating fake platforms. Especially if the damage amounts to a significant sum or individuals from different jurisdictions were affected.

In the context of IT threats, Purple Notice plays a key role in the global fight against cybercrime, as it enables the rapid sharing of data about new malware, security system vulnerabilities, and attacker tactics.

Such a notice may include information about the type of virus, its mechanisms of spreading, methods of masking, ways of infiltrating the network, used IP addresses or domains, as well as the malicious software code. For example, if a new type of ransomware was detected in one country, Purple Notice will help other countries promptly prepare for a possible attack, update protection systems, and prevent damage.

In addition, Purple Notice is used to warn about new schemes of phishing, social media hacking, banking trojans, botnets, and other forms of digital threats. This notice can be initiated by any member country of Interpol if its law enforcement agencies have identified a new phenomenon posing a potential threat to international cybersecurity. Purple Notice is not a legal tool for detention but often serves as the basis for launching national and international investigations.

It is possible to challenge a red notice — for this, there is a special body within INTERPOL called the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files. It is to this instance that an official request for the removal of the notice is submitted. The applicant can demand the removal of a Red Notice if it violates INTERPOL’s Constitution, fundamental human rights, or was initiated on political, religious, racial, or military grounds.

The procedure begins with submitting an official request to CCF, in which it is necessary to outline the essence of the case, support your position with relevant evidence, and refer to legal grounds. The request is usually accompanied by:

The commission reviews the request on average within 9 months from the moment it is accepted for consideration. However, the period may be shortened if there is a serious risk of rights violation or detention. A response from CCF does not always mean the immediate removal of the notice. Sometimes a preliminary notice is sent first with a request to provide additional data, and then a final decision follows.