Brazil's Federal District police dismantle multiple online fraud networks

The Federal District Police (PCDF) launched three separate operations against organized online fraud schemes. In Operation Man in the Middle, officers arrested five core members of a group that used legitimate online ads to pose as trusted intermediaries, convincing buyers to pay via Pix to accounts controlled by the criminals. The scheme affected at least 15 cases in Goiás between 2024 and 2025, and authorities seized assets and blocked financial accounts.

Operation Queops targeted a pyramid‑finance operation that combined electronic fraud, money‑laundering and the use of crypto‑assets. The group operated across the Federal District, Santa Maria (RS) and Manaus (AM), defrauding victims through fake high‑return investment platforms and remote‑access malware. Several arrests were made and large sums of money were traced through shell companies.

Operation Revelia focused on a “fake‑lawyer” scam that victimised residents of the Federal District. The ring used forged legal documents and the electronic judicial system to lure victims into paying alleged court fees via Pix. Police executed seven search warrants in São Paulo, São Caetano do Sul and Santos, arresting two suspects and seizing electronic evidence. Across the three operations, dozens of victims suffered losses amounting to hundreds of thousands of reais, and the PCDF emphasized the need for individuals to verify identities before making online payments.