Goiás Civil Police launch probe into illegal online betting network
Enforcement & compliance2 min read
Goiás Civil Police launched Operation Máquina de Fraudes to investigate a group suspected of cybercrime, bank fraud, money laundering and illegal online betting across seven Brazilian states and the United States. Authorities plan to execute 12 preventive arrest warrants and 27 search warrants, while courts ordered the freezing of nearly R$40 million in assets and funds. Police link the group to more than 200,000 suspected frauds; financial intelligence reports identified more than R$10 billion in transactions over five years.
Goiás Civil Police have launched Operation Máquina de Fraudes to investigate a group suspected of cybercrime, bank fraud, money laundering and illegal online betting. The investigation spans seven Brazilian states and the United States.
The operation provides for 12 preventive arrest warrants and 27 search warrants to be executed. The courts ordered the seizure and freezing of nearly R$40m in assets and funds belonging to those under investigation. Police suspect the group is linked to more than 200,000 frauds across Brazil.
Reports from financial intelligence agency COAF identified more than R$10bn in transactions over the past five years involving individuals and companies connected to the case. The network used shell companies, fintechs and payment gateways and intermediaries to process transactions. Funds passed through accounts and companies before reaching group members, in a scheme that investigators said involved purchases of high-value property and luxury vehicles, international transfers and cryptoasset transactions.
The investigation began after an anonymous complaint about a campaign called Ayuda a Sara, which purported to raise money for a seriously ill girl. The campaign used paid social media advertising and an AI-generated video imitating the image and voice of a nationally known Catholic priest. Police said Pix transfers went to accounts of companies controlled by those under investigation. Transaction analysis established that the campaign was part of a wider network involved in bank fraud and illegal online betting platforms.
Police activities took place in Goiás, Paraíba, Bahia, Paraná, São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro. Locations included Goiânia, Itapuranga, João Pessoa, Santa Rita, Curaçá, Senhor do Bonfim, Londrina, Mogi das Cruzes, Belo Horizonte and Rio de Janeiro city.
Federal District Civil Police previously deployed Operation Azzardo, which targeted São Paulo and Goiás. That operation mobilised about 200 police officers and executed 50 search warrants in the Federal District and five other states. The courts ordered the freezing of up to R$3.483bn belonging to suspects.