Brazilian Federal Police dismantle medical diploma fraud scheme

The Brazilian Federal Police launched ‘Operation Canudo’ to dismantle a criminal scheme involving the sale of falsified medical diplomas and academic documents. The operation resulted in three arrests and the execution of four search and seizure warrants across the cities of Montes Claros and Bocaiuva in Minas Gerais, and Barreiras and Luís Eduardo Magalhães in Bahia.

The investigation began in 2023 after the Regional Medical Council of Rio Grande do Sul (Cremers) identified a fraudulent diploma presented by a 33-year-old woman attempting to obtain professional registration. Authorities discovered that the document, purportedly from the Funorte University Center, was fake.

Federal Police investigators believe at least 45 individuals may have purchased fraudulent diplomas to seek medical registration or used falsified academic records to facilitate transfers into ongoing medical courses. The scheme utilized these documents to bypass legitimate educational and professional requirements, including attempts to secure registration with various Regional Medical Councils.