Goiás police investigate suspected illegal betting and fraud network
Enforcement & compliance2 min read
Goiás Civil Police launched Operation Máquina de Fraudes on 9 November to investigate a group suspected of electronic scams, banking fraud, money laundering and illegal online betting. Authorities planned 12 temporary arrests and 27 home searches across seven Brazilian states and the United States; a court ordered assets and funds worth nearly R$40m to be frozen.
Goiás Civil Police launched Operation Máquina de Fraudes on 9 November to investigate a group suspected of electronic scams, banking fraud, money laundering and illegal online betting. The investigation covers seven Brazilian states and the United States.
The operation provides for 12 temporary arrests and 27 residential search and seizure warrants. A court also ordered the seizure and freezing of the suspects' assets and funds, which total nearly R$40 million. Goiás Civil Police said the group is suspected of involvement in more than 200 mil frauds across different regions of the country.
Communications from financial intelligence body COAF identified more than R$10bn in transactions over the past five years involving individuals and companies connected to the investigation. The network used shell companies, fintechs, payment gateways and intermediaries to process transactions. According to investigators, money passed through accounts and companies before reaching group members, and the scheme involved property and luxury vehicle purchases, international transfers and cryptoasset transactions.
The investigation began after an anonymous tip about the Ajude Sara campaign, which purported to raise money for a seriously ill child. The campaign used paid social media advertisements and an artificial intelligence video reproducing the image and voice of a nationally known Catholic priest. Police said Pix transfers went to company accounts controlled by the suspects. Transaction analysis linked the campaign to a wider structure involved in banking fraud and illegal online betting platforms. Investigators identified companies with non-existent addresses or addresses at shared offices, as well as frequent changes of company name.
Brazil's Federal District Civil Police launched a separate operation, Azzardo, on 5 November, targeting São Paulo and Goiás among other locations. About 200 officers carried out 50 search warrants in the Federal District and five other states. A court ordered the freezing of up to R$3.483bn belonging to those under investigation.