Brazil police arrest suspects in medical fraud and tourist scams

Police in Brazil have dismantled several criminal operations involving fraud and theft. In Rio de Janeiro, authorities arrested two men for executing the ‘Boa Noite Cinderela’ scam against a Colombian tourist. The suspects allegedly drugged the victim with adulterated alcohol before stealing US$ 1,200 and credit cards. The victim was also thrown from a moving vehicle. Investigations revealed the primary suspect is linked to previous similar crimes targeting tourists from the UK, US, and Canada.

In Curitiba, Paraná, a joint operation led to the arrest of a couple, including a hospital employee, for running a scheme to sell falsified medical certificates via messaging apps. The group used cloned stamps and high-precision printing equipment to produce documents with retroactive diagnoses. Authorities also noted the group used clandestine access to surveillance cameras to monitor police movements.

In Limeira, São Paulo, a 42-year-old man was arrested after allegedly robbing a pharmacy by feigning he was armed. Police located him shortly after the incident at a nearby bar where he was playing slot machines.