TCU orders action over suspected misuse of Bolsa Família recipients’ IDs in betting
Brazil’s Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) ordered the social development ministry and Central Bank to prepare measures addressing suspected misuse of Bolsa Família recipients’ identification numbers for online betting. The court cited Central Bank data indicating about R$3.7bn in transfers to betting companies in January 2025, while warning that the funds could not be attributed solely to the benefit programme.
The ordered investigation could lead to scrutiny of betting transactions and suspected identity fraud involving benefit recipients.