Brazilian influencers found not guilty in Fortune Tiger case
Court mentions lack of evidence in 2023 arrest of pair suspected of promoting illegal gambling platform.
Key Points
- Skarlete Melo and Erick Costa have been absolved after accusations of using false documents during arrest
- The pair had been accused of helping launch an illegal gambling platform in Brazil
- Judge ruled documents contained valid personal data, undermining fraud intent
The Criminal Court of Ceará, a Brazilian state, has absolved digital influencers Skarlete Melo and Erick Costa of charges related to the use of false documents.
The couple was arrested in 2023 during an investigation into illegal gambling linked to promoting the game Fortune Tiger, widely known as “Jogo do Tigrinho” in Brazil.
Authorities claimed the pair had presented false identification during the operation and were actively recruiting other influencers to promote the launch of a new unlicensed, therefore illegal, betting platform.
Police alleged the couple’s lifestyle was funded by promoting what they classified as an illegal gambling platform.
As reported by an investigator, Skarlete was earning around BR250,000 ($44,000) per week from the activity. “Ostentation is their trademark,” he stated.
Good to know: The case also unfolds as the Brazilian Senate increases pressure on influencer-linked betting activity, recently ordering an influencer to testify before the official Parliamentary Inquiry
The move comes amid broader enforcement by Secretary of Prizes and Betting, which recently suspended several operators for failing cybersecurity assessments, reinforcing regulatory pressure across the sector
The couple have also previously been linked to a broader investigation involving BR14m ($2.5m) laundered through over five years promoting the “Jogo do Tigrinho;” in a betting promotion considered illegal under current Brazilian regulations and hosted on third-party platforms.
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