This Thursday (7), the Federal Police (PF) carries out an operation against a company investing in cryptocurrencies and the Forex market, suspected of having scammed around 10 thousand investors. Operation Prophet carries out one preventive arrest warrant and ten search and seizure warrants, in the states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
According to the Federal PF, the company misappropriated investments made by 10 thousand people, worth more than R$260 million, and sent this amount abroad, without the victims’ knowledge.
Investigations showed that the company had a complex structure to attract investors, receive contributions and then send the money abroad through cryptocurrency brokers.
The main target of the investigation used religion to attract victims and cultivate their trust. Hence the name of the operation.
Criminal scheme
According to the PF, the scheme involved several crimes against the national financial system, such as misappropriation of values; trading securities without prior registration and without authorization from the competent authority; operating a financial institution without due authorization; and currency evasion. Crimes involving carrying out portfolio management activities in the securities market without due authorization are also investigated; transnational criminal organization; and money laundering through virtual assets.
