A recent operation conducted by the Civil Police and the Public Ministry of São Paulo resulted in the arrest of 13 suspects linked to a large-scale scam that primarily used mobile phones. This illicit scheme is believed to have moved over R$ 100 million, showcasing a significant issue of fraud in the region. Police released a video demonstrating the technique used by the fraudsters, who impersonate officials from Brazil's social security agency, INSS, to trick victims into installing remote access software on their phones.

The modus operandi of the scammers involved convincing victims that they needed to update their personal information related to their social security accounts. Once the fraudulent app was installed on the victim's device, the criminals gained remote access, allowing them to steal sensitive information such as bank passwords and other personal data. This form of cybercrime highlights the growing sophistication of scams and the vulnerability of individuals to such fraudulent activities in Brazil.

Among those arrested was João Vitor Guido, widely known as MC Negão Original, who allegedly led the scam operation. Disturbingly, surveillance footage captured him and associates brandishing firearms while entering his condominium, indicating a potential level of intimidation and organized crime. The Public Ministry alleges that Guido used shell companies to launder R$ 20 million within a year from these scams, illustrating the financial scale and impact of organized scams in Brazil publicizing the urgent need for increased awareness and prevention measures against such frauds.