Police Dismantle ‘Fake Lawyer’ Scam Linked to Mato Grosso do Sul Prison, Indict Six

Overview

• The Federal District’s cybercrime unit (DRCC), under Decor, led the probe with support from MS teams Dracco and Defron and local stations in Dourados, Caarapó and Juti.
• Six suspects were indicted on electronic fraud, money laundering and criminal organization charges, with combined maximum penalties reaching about 26 years.
• The group mined public court records, then impersonated real attorneys via messaging apps to demand urgent fees to unlock funds or finalize cases.
• An elderly victim transferred money in one case, and the scammers attempted a larger second payment before the deception was detected.
• Police advise people with active lawsuits to verify any payment request directly with their lawyer using a previously known phone number before transferring funds.