Operation Take Over arrests two men for electronic banking fraud in Baixada Santista
Civil Police arrested two suspects and blocked R$122,000 in assets during an operation against an electronic fraud gang in Santos, Guarujá and Cubatão.
Gang moved R$8 million in electronic fraud along the São Paulo coast
Two men were arrested on Wednesday (16th) during the first phase of Operation Take Over, conducted by the General Investigations Division (DIG) of Santos against a gang specialised in electronic banking fraud in Baixada Santista. As reported by g1.globo.com, the action also resulted in the execution of 16 search and seizure warrants in the cities of Santos, Guarujá and Cubatão, in addition to the blocking of R$122,000 in assets linked to those under investigation.
According to the investigation, the suspects accessed privileged information to open bank accounts in the names of third parties. The organisation is identified by police as specialised in qualified theft, fraud through electronic deception, criminal association and money laundering.
Delegate Luiz Henrique Ribeiro, in an interview with TV Tribuna, an affiliate of Globo, stated that the group moved approximately R$8 million over the last two years in the region. "According to data gathered by Mercado Pago itself, this is an operation worth R$8 million. These are various operations that we will have to carry out over time to reach the final result and identify the people who are profiting from this financial institution," said the delegate.
The amounts identified had passed through the accounts of 13 suspects of involvement in the scheme, according to data provided by Mercado Pago.
During the execution of one of the warrants, police found approximately 150 gas cylinders stored at the residence of one of the suspects. He was unable to explain the origin of the material and was arrested shortly after. The second man detained is facing charges related to violation of a protective measure, according to delegate Ribeiro.
The Public Security Secretariat of the State of São Paulo (SSP-SP) had not responded to a request for an update on the investigation by the time this report was finalised. The defence of the suspects could also not be reached.
Source: Google News BR — São Paulo