Document forgery and fraud investigations in Brazil

Brazilian authorities have conducted multiple operations targeting various forms of document forgery and fraudulent schemes.

In one instance, police from the Specialized Station for Weapons, Ammunition and Explosives, supported by the Brazilian Army, dismantled a criminal group that used fake military reserve sergeant training courses to facilitate illegal firearm purchases. The scheme involved in-person classes and exams to create a “veneer of legality,” providing participants with falsified military identity cards, forged weapon purchase authorizations, and counterfeit Firearms Registration Certificates. Two men were arrested during the operation.

Simultaneously, law enforcement operations across five states—Bahia, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Paraíba, and Goiás—uncovered widespread academic certificate fraud. These operations, including ‘Operação Canudo’, ‘Operação Libellum Falsum’, and ‘Operação Escola de Papel’, targeted the sale of falsified diplomas ranging from elementary school records to medical degrees. These documents were used to secure professional registrations, including medical licenses and security guard credentials. Investigators noted that the lack of centralized public verification systems has complicated the validation of these documents.