Members of a group that maintained a fake e-commerce website are arrested in SP

The Military Police of São Paulo, together with the Public Prosecutor’s Office of São Paulo (MPSP), arrested five members of a group responsible for carrying out digital scams. The arrest warrants were served during Operation Tashi Delek, which began this Tuesday (13).

The action was intended to gather evidence against those involved, who are criminally responsible for fraud and criminal organization.

In the operation, more than R$14,000 in cash, 21 cell phones, as well as pen drives, computers, tablets and jewelry were seized. According to the São Paulo Public Security Secretariat (SSP-SP), the objects will undergo expert analysis and should help in the progress of the investigations against the criminal organization.

According to investigations, the misleading websites have been visited more than 137,000 times in the last six months alone. According to authorities, the criminal practice has been targeting victims all over Brazil.

Understand the scheme

Using websites, the fraudster group simulated an e-commerce business for purchasing products and services offered by third parties. According to the SSP-SP, the suspects were identified after a complaint was filed earlier this year, when one of the victims purchased auto parts on a website but did not receive the products.

The department states that the organization used pages that appeared to be genuine and that were well ranked in internet search engines, which helped the group to carry out scams on hundreds of victims.

In total, 42 search warrants and seven arrest warrants were served in the cities of São Paulo, São Bernardo do Campo, Santo André, Suzano, Bertioga and Itanhaém. During the operation, the group was dismantled, but two members are still at large.

(*Under the supervision of Felipe Andrade)