Brazil: Influencer-led illegal raffle scheme dismantled

Authorities have uncovered a multimillion real illegal raffle scheme allegedly run by former police officer Kleverton “Kel” Ferreti, who leveraged his influencer status to promote and legitimize manipulated online draws.

According to the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Alagoas, the organization generated more than BR33m through fake raffles designed to deceive participants and divert profits to its members.

Investigations reveal that Ferreti who branded himself as a “digital entrepreneur,” operated a network of online raffles where winning tickets were preselected, leaving legitimate participants with no chance of claiming prizes. 

Despite the illicit nature of the operation, Ferreti flaunted luxury cars, international trips and a lavish lifestyle on social media, claiming his wealth came from digital entrepreneurship and paid courses on “how to profit from online betting” and stating that “people stay poor because they want to.”

Authorities estimate Ferreti made BR400,000 in a single month from illegal raffles and unregulated courses.

Influencer Laís Oliveira, who has over five million followers and her husband, were also named in the investigation as central figures in promoting the raffles. 

Between January and April 2024, Oliveira allegedly received nearly BR1m from one of Ferreti’s companies. 

Ferreti, who was expelled from the military police in 2023 after violating electoral law, was arrested the same month during an operation. Police seized jewellery, cash and multiple mobile phones. 

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He is also serving an eight-year sentence for rape, related to a victim who was one of the defrauded participants. 

Despite the charges, Ferreti remains active online, legally permitted to use social media and frequent public spaces.

His defence maintains that he does not own any betting platforms and that his activities were limited to advertising services.

Carlos Mendez

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