The Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro has launched a major operation. It targets influencers suspected of promoting illegal online gambling platforms, including the notorious Jogo do Tigrinho. Police codenamed the action “Desfortuna.” They are executing search and seizure warrants in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Minas Gerais. Authorities are going after 15 digital influencers. Authorities accuse them of belonging to a criminal organization that promotes illicit gambling and launders large sums of money.
The Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro has launched a major operation. It targets influencers linked to illegal online gambling platforms, including the infamous Jogo do Tigrinho. Police codenamed the operation “Desfortuna.”
Police are carrying out search and seizure warrants in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Minas Gerais. Authorities are focusing on 15 digital influencers.
Police suspect them of belonging to a criminal organization. They accuse the group of promoting illicit gambling and laundering huge sums of money.
Police highlighted that such displays of wealth were incompatible with their declared incomes, pointing to illicit financial gains.
The investigation also revealed that the scheme extended beyond influencer marketing. The criminal group reportedly included financial operators and shell companies, designed to disguise the illegal origin of funds. These entities served as intermediaries to launder money, making it more difficult to trace.
The Financial Activities Control Council (Coaf), an agency tied to Brazil’s Central Bank, provided crucial intelligence for the case. Coaf flagged suspicious banking activities worth R$4 billion. This finding strengthens suspicions of large-scale money laundering. Investigators linked the transactions to the illegal gambling operations.
Police believe the operation could greatly impact illegal online gambling in Brazil. Platforms like Jogo do Tigrinho have expanded quickly. They often target vulnerable players with misleading ads. By dismantling this network, authorities hope to curb digital gambling scams. They also want to send a strong warning to influencers who promote unlawful activities.
This operation marks a decisive step in Brazil’s broader crackdown on cybercrime and financial fraud.
