Operation Falso Defensor Dismantles Ceará 'False Lawyer' Ring, Freezes R$500,000

Overview

• - The Goiás-led sweep, carried out Wednesday under Operation Falso Defensor, executed 14 temporary arrests and 14 searches in Fortaleza, Caucaia and Pacatuba and froze about R$500,000 linked to the group.
• - The probe began after a Goiás public servant lost about R$452,000 in eight days, which led police to victims in other states and to a network based in Ceará.
• - Scammers used WhatsApp to impersonate real lawyers and public servants, cited genuine case numbers, and demanded taxes and fees to release payouts that did not exist.
• - Investigators say the ring operated in three cells for victim outreach, authority spoofing and money movement, and they are reviewing seized phones and records to find more victims and possible insiders who leaked court data.
• - Those detained are expected to face electronic fraud, criminal association and money laundering charges, with combined prison terms that could exceed 21 years.