Grêmio coach impersonator arrested in Brazil for athlete fraud

Brazilian authorities have arrested Lucas de Oliveira Eduardo as part of ‘Operação Falso 9’ for impersonating Grêmio football coach Luís Castro to defraud professional athletes. The suspect was apprehended in Itaperuna, Rio de Janeiro, following a joint investigation by the civil police of Rio Grande do Sul and Rio de Janeiro.

The scam involved using fake WhatsApp profiles with the coach's photograph to establish trust with players. The perpetrator would engage in lengthy conversations regarding the athletes' families, routines, and training performances, often requesting that the communication remain secret. Once trust was established, the suspect requested money under the guise of donations for social projects, specifically for the purchase of food baskets.

Colombian striker José Enamorado was a victim, transferring approximately R$ 22,000 via Pix. The suspect also attempted to solicit R$ 50,000 from the same player by claiming another athlete abroad intended to donate more baskets, but the transaction failed due to banking limits. Other players, including defender Walter Kannemann and former player Andrés D’Alessandro, were targeted but did not lose money. Investigations indicate the criminal group used local bank accounts in Itaperuna to hide the origin of the funds. The suspect is being investigated for electronic fraud and false identity.