Interpol Purple Notice
An Interpol Purple Notice is a type of international alert or notice issued by Interpol to seek or provide information on individuals or groups who are involved in committing or planning serious crimes, such as terrorism, organized crime, or money laundering.
Interpol’s Purple Notice is used to seek or provide information on modus operandi, objects, devices, and concealment methods used by criminals, typically those involved in transnational organized crime. The primary function of the Purple Notice is to warn law enforcement agencies of potential threats from such criminals and to facilitate intelligence-sharing and collaboration between countries.
Interpol Purple Notices are issued at the request of any Interpol member country, and they are not arrest warrants. The purpose of a Purple Notice is to gather information and intelligence on criminal activities to assist law enforcement agencies in preventing or disrupting criminal activities. Interpol publishes Purple Notices on its website for all member countries to access.
Some examples of crimes for which a Purple Notice may be issued include cybercrime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and organized crime. Interpol works closely with member countries to share information and coordinate efforts to combat these types of crimes, and the issuance of Purple Notices is one tool in this effort.
Purple Notice: a real case
According to local media sources, South Korean police have submitted global police organization Interpol with details on a crypto-related voice phishing case after getting a purple alert on two transnational crimes that injured locals.
Purple Notice Fast facts:
- Last May, a person claimed to have disguised himself as a public prosecutor in order to persuade a victim to acquire and transfer more than $100,000 in Bitcoin.
- According to the National Police Agency (KNPA), cryptocurrency crimes are on the rise in South Korea, including a case in which investors lost about US$2 billion last year.
- KNPA has now reported the voice phishing incident to Interpol and its 195 member countries.
- The purple notice issued by Interpol is a request for information on the procedures, objects, equipment, or concealing strategies used in cases.
- Last May, the purple notice also requested information about a non-crypto event involving a sea-jacking scenario along the coast of Africa.
Purple Notice vs other Interpol Notices
| Name of Notice | Description |
|---|---|
| Red Notice | A Red Notice is a request to find and arrest a person awaiting extradition. It is issued by the General Secretariat on the basis of a valid national arrest warrant at the request of a member country or an international tribunal. |
| Yellow Notice | A Yellow Notice is issued to assist in the location of missing persons, or in the identification of those who are unable to identify themselves. It is published for victims of parental abductions, criminal abductions (kidnappings) or unexplained disappearances. |
| Blue Notice | A Blue Notice is issued to gather further information on a person’s identity, whereabouts, or activities in connection with a crime. This does not ensure the person’s extradition or arrest. |
| Black Notice | A Black Notice is a call for information on unidentified remains found in member countries. |
| Green Notice | A Green Notice is issued to convey warnings and intelligence about individuals who have committed criminal offences and are likely to commit similar offences in other countries. |
| Orange Notice | An Orange Notice is issued to warn of an event, a person, an item, or a process that poses a significant and urgent hazard to public safety. |
| Purple Notice | A Purple Notice is a request for information about criminals’ methods of operation, objects, gadgets, and hiding tactics. |
| Interpol-United Nations Security Council Special Notice This Notice is issued for people and companies subject to United Nations Security Council sanctions. Its primary duty is to notify national law enforcement agencies that designated persons and entities are subject to sanctions such as asset freezes, weapons embargoes, and travel bans. |
