Avoid getting scammed by fake "Banco de Espana" emails
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
(updated)
"Banco de Espana email scam" removal guide
What is the fake "Banco de Espana" email?
"Banco de Espana email scam" refers to a spam campaign. This term defines a mass-scale operation during which deceptive emails are sent by the thousand. The scam letters distributed through this campaign are disguised as deposit notifications from "Banco de Espana". It must be emphasized that these emails are in no way associated with the real Banco de España (Bank of Spain). The purpose of the deceptive emails is to promote a phishing/malicious website via link presented in them.
According to a rough translation, the "Banco de Espana" scam emails (subject/title "sigue deposito en su cuenta bancaria 3 mil euros - [ id 656427097 ]"; may vary) claim that a certain sum has been deposited into the recipient's bank accounts. The sum, worth three thousand euros - is the loan that the recipient's agency has supposedly submitted a request for. To print the deposit data, recipients are instructed to click the provided link. Doing so - redirects to a dangerous phishing site. Therefore, it is strongly advised against trusting the fake "Banco de Espana" letters.
Phishing webpages are designed to record any information entered into them. They are often disguised as legitimate websites (e.g., log-in pages of online bank accounts). These sites are created to collect sensitive/personal information, e.g., names, surnames, addresses, emails, telephone numbers, log-in credentials (IDs, usernames, passwords), banking account and credit card details, etc. The gathered data can be misused in a variety of ways, like - stealing users' accounts, sold to third-parties (potentially, cyber criminals), used to facilitate other scams, and so on. Scammers can use hijacked communication accounts (e.g., emails, social media, social networking, messaging services, etc.) to ask contacts for loans and/or spread malware (by sharing infectious files) - under the guise of the genuine owner. Bank accounts and others that directly or indirectly deal with financial information (e.g., store credit card details) are of particular interest to scammers. These accounts can be used to make fraudulent transactions and/or online purchases. Scam emails are also used to proliferate malware. This can be done through malicious websites. Upon entry, these sites initiate the infection chain (i.e., download/installation) of trojans, ransomware, cryptominers, and other malware. In summary, by trusting "Banco de Espana" scam letters, users can experience system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.
| Name | Banco de Espana Email Scam |
| Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud |
| Fake Claim | Scam emails claim a sum has been transferred into recipients' bank accounts. |
| Disguise | Scam emails are presented as mail from Banco de España (Bank of Spain). |
| Symptoms | Unauthorized online purchases, changed online account passwords, identity theft, illegal access of the computer. |
| Distribution methods | Deceptive emails, rogue online pop-up ads, search engine poisoning techniques, misspelled domains. |
| Damage | Loss of sensitive private information, monetary loss, identity theft. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Malwarebytes. |
"N26 Email Scam", "Email Disabling Service", "I Monitored Your Device On The Net For A Long Time", and "Credito Agricola Email Scam" are some examples of other spam campaigns. The emails spread through these campaigns are usually presented as "official", "important", "urgent", and similar; they may even be disguised as mail from legitimate institutions, companies, agencies, organizations, service providers, and other entities. Aside from promoting phishing and other scams, spam mail is also used to proliferate malware. Regardless of how scam letters operate, their goal is the same - to generate profit for the scammers/ cyber criminals behind them.
How do spam campaigns infect computers?
Spam campaigns infect systems via virulent files distributed through them. These files can be attached to the deceptive emails and/or the letters contain download links of such files. Malicious files can be in various formats (e.g., archives, executables, PDF and Microsoft Office documents, JavaScript, etc.), and when they are executed, run, or otherwise opened - malware download/installation is triggered. For example, Microsoft Office documents cause infections by executing malicious macro commands. In Microsoft Office versions released prior to 2010, this process begins automatically when a document is opened. Later versions have "Protected View" mode that prevents automatic execution of macros. Instead, users are asked to enable macro commands (i.e., to enable editing/content) and are alerted of the potential risks.
How to avoid installation of malware?
It is strongly advised against opening suspicious/irrelevant emails, especially any attachments or links present in them - as that can lead to a system infection. It is recommended to use Microsoft Office versions released after 2010. Malicious programs are also spread through dubious download channels (e.g., unofficial and free file-hosting sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, and other third party downloaders), illegal activation ("cracking") tools, and fake updaters. Therefore, only official and verified download sources must be used. Additionally, all programs have to be activated and updated with tools/functions provided by genuine developers. To ensure device integrity and user privacy, it is paramount to have a dependable anti-virus installed. This software must be kept updated, used to run regular system scans, and remove detected/potential threats. If you've already opened malicious attachments, we recommend running a scan with Malwarebytes for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.
Text presented in the "Banco de Espana" scam email letter:
Subject: sigue deposito en su cuenta bancaria 3 mil euros - [ id 656427097 ]
Banco de Espana - adjunto de deposito
Sigue un archivo adjunto de deposito de 3 mil euros en su cuenta segun prestamo solicitado a su agencia
Imprimir:
DEPOSITO ADJUNTO DE 3 MIL EUROS - 2021.38.00.019685-2 (TF-1)
Another example of Banco De Espana-themed spam email (the link within this email downloads a .zip archive containing a malicious .msi file which injects Banload trojan into the system):
Text presented within:
Subject: sigue el deposito de 5.987,20 mil euros en su cuenta bancaria - [ id 570174872 ]
Resultado de imagen para pdf
Descargar todo como.zip archivos adjuntos ( 128 kb)se anexa el seguiente comprobante de transferencia
Remitente: Servicio de Administracion financiero.
pago de reembolso relacionado con el impuesto sobre la renta:
A quien corresponda
SERIE Y FOLIO: 2158945
FECHA DE EMISION: 11/02/2021
MONTO TOTAL: 5987.20Servicio de Administracion banco espana,
+34 1308 808 800 Capitales y areas metropolitanas
Instant automatic malware removal:
Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced computer skills. Malwarebytes is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
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Quick menu:
- What is "Banco de Espana email scam"?
- STEP 1. Manual removal of possible malware infections.
- STEP 2. Check if your computer is clean.
How to remove malware manually?
Manual malware removal is a complicated task - usually it is best to allow antivirus or anti-malware programs to do this automatically. To remove this malware we recommend using Malwarebytes for Windows. If you wish to remove malware manually, the first step is to identify the name of the malware that you are trying to remove. Here is an example of a suspicious program running on a user's computer:
If you checked the list of programs running on your computer, for example, using task manager, and identified a program that looks suspicious, you should continue with these steps:
Download a program called Autoruns. This program shows auto-start applications, Registry, and file system locations:
Restart your computer into Safe Mode:
Windows XP and Windows 7 users: Start your computer in Safe Mode. Click Start, click Shut Down, click Restart, click OK. During your computer start process, press the F8 key on your keyboard multiple times until you see the Windows Advanced Option menu, and then select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
Video showing how to start Windows 7 in "Safe Mode with Networking":
Windows 8 users: Start Windows 8 is Safe Mode with Networking - Go to Windows 8 Start Screen, type Advanced, in the search results select Settings. Click Advanced startup options, in the opened "General PC Settings" window, select Advanced startup. Click the "Restart now" button. Your computer will now restart into the "Advanced Startup options menu". Click the "Troubleshoot" button, and then click the "Advanced options" button. In the advanced option screen, click "Startup settings". Click the "Restart" button. Your PC will restart into the Startup Settings screen. Press F5 to boot in Safe Mode with Networking.
Video showing how to start Windows 8 in "Safe Mode with Networking":
Windows 10 users: Click the Windows logo and select the Power icon. In the opened menu click "Restart" while holding "Shift" button on your keyboard. In the "choose an option" window click on the "Troubleshoot", next select "Advanced options". In the advanced options menu select "Startup Settings" and click on the "Restart" button. In the following window you should click the "F5" button on your keyboard. This will restart your operating system in safe mode with networking.
Video showing how to start Windows 10 in "Safe Mode with Networking":
Extract the downloaded archive and run the Autoruns.exe file.
In the Autoruns application, click "Options" at the top and uncheck "Hide Empty Locations" and "Hide Windows Entries" options. After this procedure, click the "Refresh" icon.
Check the list provided by the Autoruns application and locate the malware file that you want to eliminate.
You should write down its full path and name. Note that some malware hides process names under legitimate Windows process names. At this stage, it is very important to avoid removing system files. After you locate the suspicious program you wish to remove, right click your mouse over its name and choose "Delete".
After removing the malware through the Autoruns application (this ensures that the malware will not run automatically on the next system startup), you should search for the malware name on your computer. Be sure to enable hidden files and folders before proceeding. If you find the filename of the malware, be sure to remove it.
Reboot your computer in normal mode. Following these steps should remove any malware from your computer. Note that manual threat removal requires advanced computer skills. If you do not have these skills, leave malware removal to antivirus and anti-malware programs. These steps might not work with advanced malware infections. As always it is best to prevent infection than try to remove malware later. To keep your computer safe, install the latest operating system updates and use antivirus software.
To be sure your computer is free of malware infections, we recommend scanning it with Malwarebytes for Windows.
Outstanding!
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