Three men suspected of executing a scam targeting elderly individuals by posing as relatives have been arrested in Goiás, Brazil, following an investigation that originated after a 71-year-old victim lost money to the scheme.
The recent investigation into the 'false relative' scam, primarily targeting elderly individuals, has led to the arrest of three men in Goiânia, Goiás. This operation, initiated by the Civil Police of Rio Grande do Sul, was prompted by a case where a 71-year-old resident from Arroio do Sal fell victim to the criminals who posed as his son via messaging app and convinced him to transfer nearly R$ 3,000.
The modus operandi of the scammers involved creating a sense of urgency and falsely claiming that they had changed their phone number, which aimed to manipulate the victims into making quick financial transfers using the popular payment method, Pix. The police emphasized that the scammers would quickly move the stolen money between various accounts to obfuscate the trail and evade detection.
This operation, dubbed 'Fake Family,' involved collaboration between various divisions of the police, including the Cyber Crime Division and the local precinct in Arroio do Sal, demonstrating a concerted effort to combat such deceitful practices that have increasingly victimized vulnerable populations, especially the elderly, in Brazil. The case highlights the need for better education and awareness campaigns to protect against such scams.
