In a coordinated international operation, eighty people were detained across several countries in what authorities call one of the largest fraud rings uncovered using the notorious Nigerian letters scheme. The arrest tally includes sixty-one individuals connected to a criminal network that deceived more than a thousand victims worldwide.
The National Police reported that sixty-one suspects were apprehended within Spain, with cases concentrated in Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga, and Santander. The effort involved close collaboration with the Tax Agency, the Customs Surveillance service, and Europol. In addition to the Spanish arrests, sixteen people were taken into custody in Portugal and three in the United Kingdom.
The operation included fifty-three simultaneous searches. Law enforcement seized more than half a million dollars, about thirty thousand euros, hundreds of mobile phones, computers, and several vehicles as part of the investigation and asset recovery efforts.
In a press release, the National Police stated that the organization defrauded more than a thousand people, including seniors in the United States. Authorities described it as one of the largest groups involved in this type of deception.
The core of the operation was located in the Madrid metropolitan area, especially the towns of Parla and Fuenlabrada, with branches extending across the country and into the United Kingdom, Mexico, and the United States.
The investigation began toward the end of 2019 when investigators found shipments from the United States containing unusually large sums of money concealed inside magazines. Further inquiries traced how the gang operated and expanded its reach.
Evidence shows the group ran a printing facility in Fuenlabrada to mass‑produce letters that mimicked legitimate notices such as unclaimed inheritance claims and prize winnings. These letters often bore the names of the supposed victims and carried personalized labels with real names and addresses to be mailed in envelopes. The goal was to create a convincing impression of authenticity and spark fear or excitement in targets.
Logistics for the operation involved transporting these letters to Portugal by passenger vehicles or buses for bulk mailing, a choice driven by lower service costs compared to sending from within Spain. Estimates suggest the total value of mailed letters could reach up to five hundred thousand euros.
The victims were mainly seniors contacted using the telephone numbers listed on the letters. A short, targeted inquiry led many to believe they had won a prize and were required to pay upfront fees to secure the prize or to cover administrative taxes. Payments typically ranged from one thousand to thirty thousand euros per person.
Part of the scheme included a deceptive money flow where victims were instructed to forward their supposed prize payments to another person who could relay funds to yet another participant within the same criminal network. The criminals manipulated the victims into thinking a loan had been issued to complete the payment.
In practice, victims sent cash to a third party who then passed it along to a beneficiary in Spain, who finally acted as the end recipient. The money was gathered in magazines or catalogs; the Customs Surveillance Service of the Tax Agency tracked the trail by monitoring parcel movements and related financial signals.
After funds moved, the proceeds were transferred back to the offenders’ home countries through a network of agents who specialized in travel, sometimes referred to as mules. These trips involved stashing cash in suitcases or wallets to quietly move funds across borders or through transit points.
Authorities noted that among the dozens of registrations carried out in Spain, the operations targeted multiple municipalities including Parla, Fuenlabrada, Santander, and Benalmádena in Málaga. Those who were seized face charges such as fraud, document falsification, money laundering, and membership in a criminal organization. While more than four hundred victims were identified, investigators believe the real number could exceed one thousand globally.
The operation united several international partners, including the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Department of Homeland Security, Portugal’s Judicial Police, and the British National Crime Agency. Their cooperation illustrates the cross‑border nature of this fraud and highlights the importance of international teamwork in pursuing such networks.
Notes: The information reflects official statements from police authorities and highlights the global reach of this type of scam documented during the investigation. For further details, readers may consult official releases from law enforcement agencies .