Brazil Federal Police launch Operation Fake Fisher against Seguro Defeso fraud in Maranhão
On 7 July 2026, Brazil's Federal Police, through the Previdenciary Task Force in Maranhão, initiated Operation Fake Fisher to combat a criminal network defrauding the Seguro Defeso benefit for artisanal fishermen. The operation, a follow‑up to the 2023 Fake ID investigation, involved the Coordination‑General of Intelligence of Social Security (CGINP) and resulted in four search‑and‑seizure warrants carried out by 18 agents in São Luís, targeting the residences and offices of a law firm and intermediaries.
Investigators say the scheme recruited beneficiaries in bulk to fabricate links with the fishing sector, leading to the unlawful granting of at least 552 benefits and an estimated loss of roughly R$ 3.7 million to the public treasury. The suspects may be charged with aggravated fraud against the INSS, criminal association and falsification of public documents, with the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) present during the raids.