Brazil: Police chief testifies before Senate committee on betting influencer fraud

In testimony before Brazil’s Parliamentary Inquiry Commission (CPI) on sports betting, Lucimério Barros Campos, Chief of the Alagoas Civil Police and lead investigator of Operação Game Over, has described how illegal betting sites and social media influencers collaborate to deceive users and boost profits.

Campos explained that the investigation was launched after multiple complaints from individuals who lost large sums on illegal platforms. He detailed how these sites use unauthorized payment intermediaries, often created under false or loosely associated identities, to process deposits made via Pix, a Brazilian instant payment system. “We identified 15 million reais reverted in clandestine bets,” he told the senators, as quoted by Carta Capital, the Brazilian newspaper.

According to the testimony, hired influencers were given fake betting accounts to simulate wins. They would then publish videos and posts celebrating big payouts, creating misleading promotions aimed at drawing new users. “They’re not winning the money, they’re being paid by the platforms to advertise,” Campos said, showing audio and video evidences.

Good to know: Campos also described unregulated betting as a predatory activity that not only risks personal finances, but also harms local economies and public health

Campos urged the regulation of paragraph 5 of article 173 of the Brazilian Federal Constitution, which outlines legal consequences for companies acting against economic order and public interest. He also advocates for stricter regulations on advertising, including on legalized platforms.

The CPI continues its hearings as it investigates the broader impact of betting in Brazil and the role of digital media in its growth.