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Operation Desfortuna Points to Millionaire Scheme with Ostentation, Money Laundering and Connection to Organized Crime
The Civil Police of Rio revealed that influencers moved around R$ 40 million between 2022 and 2024 by promoting illegal online casinos, especially the popular “Jogo do Tigrinho”. According to the Operation Desfortuna, launched this Thursday (07), the criminal structure sustaining this publicity network may have moved up to R$ 4 billion, according to reports from Coaf. The targets used social media to flaunt a luxurious lifestyle, inconsistent with their declared incomes.
31 search and seizure warrants were executed, with 23 in the state of Rio de Janeiro alone. Among the investigated are well-known names from the internet such as Bia Miranda, Mauricio Martins Junior (Mau Mau), and sisters Paola and Paulina de Ataíde. The operation seized luxury cars, documents, cell phones, and weapons. The goal is to dismantle a scheme that used digital influence to attract victims to disguised gambling opportunities.
How the Influencers’ Scheme Worked
According to delegate Renan Mello from the Delegacy for Combating Organized Crime and Money Laundering (DCOC-LD), the influencers acted as spokespersons for illegal casinos, receiving commissions based on the number of bets generated and losses incurred by their followers.
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Posts on social media were filled with unrealistic promises of easy profits and “life-changing” opportunities, attracting people in vulnerable situations.
“The more the losses, the higher the influencer’s profit”, said the delegate. To make tracking the money difficult, the group used shell companies and financial operators specialized in washing the obtained capital, characterizing a criminal organization.
The structure included marketing agencies, straw accounts, and even connections with individuals already investigated for involvement with organized crime.
Who the Targets of Operation Desfortuna Are
The list of 15 investigated individuals includes influential figures on social media, such as:
- Bia Miranda, former reality show participant
- Mauricio Martins Junior (Mau Mau), with over 3 million followers
- Nayara Silva Mendes, involved in digital marketing actions
- The twins Paola and Paulina de Ataíde, known for lifestyle content
In São Paulo, Mau Mau was caught in the act for illegal possession of a weapon. Meanwhile, Bia Miranda is out of the country and has not yet made a statement. The police are still waiting for the arrival of two luxury vehicles, a Porsche and a BMW belonging to individuals under investigation who were not at the scene during the actions.
The Impact of Social Media on the Scheme
Investigations revealed that monetizing digital influence is at the heart of the organization’s strategy. Using the language of proximity and personal success, influencers convinced thousands of followers to engage in gambling, many of whom lost large sums believing in quick profits.
The digital performance was reinforced by ostentation of high-value assets, such as international trips, luxury cars, and properties, all showcased as the result of gambling.
The Civil Police warns that the public needs to be alert: “These casinos do not offer real chances of profit. The logic is that the player’s loss generates profit for the influencer”, said delegate Mello.
The operation was coordinated in partnership with the Asset Recovery Office (GRA) and the Laboratory for Technology Against Money Laundering (Lab-LD) of the Civil Police, and aims to advance to identify those responsible for keeping betting platforms operating in the country.
Have you seen this type of ad on social media? Do you think that influencers should be held accountable for promoting illegal casinos? Leave your opinion in the comments; your experience can alert others.
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