Cybercriminals continue to evolve their tactics, and one of the latest phishing campaigns masquerades as a message from Spanish authorities under the title “From the Crime Fraud Investigation Department Spain”. This scam email falsely claims that internet fraudsters who previously defrauded the recipient have been arrested, and a court has awarded compensation of €2 million to the victim.
The goal of this fraudulent email is to extract sensitive information or trick victims into sending money under the pretense of legal or procedural fees. The scam uses official-sounding titles and names to appear legitimate, but it is entirely fake and unassociated with any law enforcement or legal institutions in Spain or elsewhere.
Summary of the Threat
| Threat Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Threat Name | “From the Crime Fraud Investigation Department Spain” |
| Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud |
| Associated Email | barrjhgeorge7798@gmail.com |
| Detection Names | Scam.Phishing.Fraud, Email Scam, Phish:FakeCompensation |
| Symptoms of Infection | Identity theft, unauthorized transactions, phishing follow-up messages |
| Damage | Loss of sensitive personal and financial information, monetary loss |
| Distribution Methods | Deceptive emails, spam campaigns, fake compensation claims |
| Danger Level | High – due to potential for identity theft and financial fraud |
Email Text (Scam Message)
Subject: From the Crime Fraud Investigation Department Spain
This is Roger Louis, United States detective working under Spanish police on Cyber Crime and Internet Fraud.
Be informed that the internet fraudsters who defraud you have been arrested and charged to court, last Friday was the final judgement. The court has ordered the Spanish Government to pay you compensation and damages for all the money you lose to those fraudsters, in which the crime are committed by South Americans and Africans living over here in Spain.
This is to notify you that The Supreme Court of Spain has ordered the Spanish Government to pay you compensation and damages. The sum of Ђ2,000.000.00 (Two Million Euros) has been approved to you in order to compensate you for all the money you lose to those internet fraudsters in Spain.
The Policía Nacional Crime Fraud Investigation Department Spain is very pleased to inform you that your information has been passed to Barrister George Hernández for immediate transfer of your compensation funds from the Spanish Government.
Contact person: Barrister George Hernández from Principal Attorney George Hernández & Asociados Corporate and Finance Law Firm Madrid, Spain.
Contact email: (barrjhgeorge7798@gmail.com)
Contact address: Avda Reina Victoria 58 – Esc. 1, 1єA 28003
If you are interested in receiving the compensation funds €2,000.000.00 – Two Million Euros, You should contact Barrister George Hernández on this email address: (barrjhgeorge7798@gmail.com). He will direct you on how to receive your funds.
When contacting the Barrister, Please ask for his ID Card, for you to be sure you are in contact with the right person.
Thank you and Congratulation in advance
Best Regards,
Roger Louis
United States detective working under Spanish police on Cyber Crime and Internet Fraud.
What Makes This Scam Convincing?
This particular scam email:
- Uses law enforcement-themed language and names.
- Mentions specific monetary compensation to lure victims.
- Falsely invokes legal and governmental authority (Supreme Court of Spain).
- Pushes urgency and legitimacy by offering contact with a fake “Barrister”.
- Uses relatively formal language to appear credible, though inconsistencies and strange grammar persist.
Despite its somewhat professional tone, red flags include:
- Unverified and free email addresses like Gmail.
- Vague statements and unverifiable names.
- Incorrect grammar, syntax issues, and questionable legitimacy of the origin.
Manual Removal Guide: How to Identify and Remove Email Scams Yourself
Step 1: Recognizing Scam Emails
Before taking action, learn to identify email scams. Some common red flags include:
- Unknown Sender: Emails from unfamiliar addresses, especially if they claim to be from banks, tech support, or government agencies.
- Urgent or Threatening Language: Messages pressuring you to act quickly (e.g., “Your account will be suspended!”).
- Poor Grammar & Spelling Mistakes: Many scam emails contain grammatical errors.
- Suspicious Links or Attachments: Hover over links to check if they lead to an unusual website before clicking.
- Requests for Personal or Financial Information: Legitimate companies will never ask for sensitive details via email.
Step 2: Avoid Interacting with Scam Emails
If an email appears suspicious:
- Do NOT click on any links.
- Do NOT download attachments.
- Do NOT reply to the sender.
Step 3: Report the Email Scam
Reporting scam emails helps prevent others from falling victim to them:
- Gmail/Outlook/Yahoo Users: Click “Report Phishing” or “Report Spam” in your email client.
- FTC (U.S. users): Report scams to the FTC Complaint Assistant.
- Google Safe Browsing: Report phishing sites at Google’s Phishing Report.
Step 4: Block the Sender
To prevent further scam emails from the same sender:
- Gmail: Open the email, click the three dots, and select “Block [Sender Name]”.
- Outlook: Open the email, select “Junk” > “Block Sender”.
- Yahoo Mail: Click “More” > “Block Sender”.
Step 5: Check Your Accounts for Compromise
If you’ve interacted with a scam email:
- Change your passwords immediately. Use strong, unique passwords.
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). Adds an extra security layer.
- Monitor your banking transactions for suspicious activity.
Step 6: Scan Your Device for Malware
If you accidentally clicked a link or downloaded a file, scan your system for malware:
- Windows Users (Windows Defender)
- Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & Threat Protection.
- Click “Quick Scan” or “Full Scan”.
- Mac Users
- Use security software like Malwarebytes for Mac to scan for threats.
Step 7: Strengthen Email Security
- Enable spam filtering in your email provider’s settings.
- Use a third-party spam filter such as Spamihilator or Mailwasher.
- Stay educated on phishing techniques to avoid falling for scams in the future.
SpyHunter Removal Guide: Automated Solution for Email Scam Threats
SpyHunter is a powerful anti-malware tool designed to detect and remove phishing-related threats, Trojans, spyware, and other cyber threats. If you prefer a quick and automated solution, follow these steps:
Step 1: Download SpyHunter
- Visit the official SpyHunter download page: Download SpyHunter
- Click “Download” and save the file.
Step 2: Install SpyHunter
- Open the downloaded file (SpyHunter-Installer.exe).
- Follow the on-screen installation instructions.
- Once installed, launch SpyHunter.
Step 3: Perform a Full System Scan
- Open SpyHunter and go to “Malware/PC Scan”.
- Click “Start Scan Now” to begin scanning.
- SpyHunter will detect threats linked to email scams.
Step 4: Review and Remove Detected Threats
- After the scan completes, SpyHunter will display a list of detected threats.
- Click "Fix Threats" to remove them.
- Restart your computer after removal.
Step 5: Enable Real-Time Protection
- Activate SpyHunter’s Active Guards for real-time malware protection.
- Schedule regular system scans for ongoing security.
Step 6: Keep SpyHunter Updated
- Regularly update SpyHunter to detect new threats.
- To update, go to "Settings" > "Update" and click "Check for Updates".
How to Prevent Future Email Scams
To avoid falling for email scams in the future, follow these precautions:
Use a Secure Email Provider
Consider using encrypted email services like ProtonMail or Tutanota for enhanced security.
Avoid Clicking Suspicious Links
Always verify links before clicking by hovering over them to see the actual URL.
Use a VPN on Public Wi-Fi
Scammers can intercept your data on public networks. Use a VPN for secure browsing.
Regularly Change Your Passwords
Use a password manager to generate and store secure passwords.
Install Anti-Phishing Browser Extensions
Use security extensions like Bitdefender TrafficLight or Avast Online Security to detect phishing attempts.
Email scams pose a significant risk to personal and financial security. By following this manual removal guide, you can effectively identify and remove scam emails. For those seeking a fast and automated approach, SpyHunter provides a reliable solution to detect and remove email scam-related threats.
Take Action Now
Protect your device from scam-related malware with SpyHunter: Download SpyHunter
