Brazil: Influencer arrested after profiting $2.6m from illegal gambling promotion
Brazilian authorities say online casino promotions misled followers and caused heavy losses.
Key Points
- DJ and influencer Maria Vitória Lima, known as Latina Gold, allegedly earned BR14m ($2.6m) promoting illegal gambling
- Police say her husband and two other influencers were also arrested, with the group moving BR30m in total
- Followers were misled through false accounts and one reported a BR400,000 loss
The Civil Police of Piauí have arrested influencer and DJ Maria Vitória Lima, better known as Latina Gold, as part of an operation targeting illegal online gambling promotions.
Authorities allege she generated nearly BR14m over the past two years by promoting the Fortune Tiger slot on illegal websites, via the use of fake accounts that deceived viewers by promoting fake wins.
Her husband, Domingos Ferreira, was also detained. Police allege he moved around BR700,000 through similar activities.
Together with two other influencers, the group is believed to have operated an illegal gambling and money laundering scheme worth roughly BR30m.
Investigators from the Department for the Repression of Cybercrime said the suspects used fake accounts to simulate winnings and encourage players to invest.
Assets including luxury cars, phones and other goods were seized during raids across Teresina.
Good to know: São Paulo police’s “Tiger Hunting” raided illegal gambling sites
One of her followers reportedly lost BR400,000 after being allegedly misled by the influencers’ promotions.
“The operation was carried out to stop consumers from being induced into error, and to curb money laundering and organized crime linked to gambling,” said Alisson Landim, delegate at the Cybercrime Department.
Police reiterated warnings against betting on unlicensed platforms, stressing that only operators authorised by the Ministry of Finance can legally operate in Brazil.
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