A scammer who posed as coach Luis Castro to extort Leo Ortiz has been arrested in Rio de Janeiro. The criminal had previously swindled another Gremio player out of 22,000 BRL.
The Brazilian football community was alerted this Wednesday (02) to the arrest of a scammer who used the identity of coach Luis Castro, currently at Gremio, to attempt to extort players. Police action in Rio de Janeiro revealed a scheme that had already claimed victims but was dismantled before causing further damage.
The most significant point of this operation is the successful prevention of a scam targeting Flamengo defender Leo Ortiz and funk artist MC Hariel, both of whom were warned by authorities in time. The arrest of the suspect, a former Gremio youth player, highlights the growing need for vigilance in the digital environment, where criminals constantly seek new ways to target public figures and athletes.
Scammer’s Identity Revealed
The man identified as 29-year-old Lucas de Oliveira Eduardo was detained in Rio de Janeiro following an investigation by the 4th Police District of Porto Alegre. Lucas, who spent time in Gremio’s youth academy, is accused of using Luis Castro’s image to run scams targeting athletes.
Scheme Harmed Gremio Player
Before attempting to approach Leo Ortiz, the scheme had already succeeded against Gremio forward Enamorado. The player transferred 22,000 BRL to the scammer, who communicated via WhatsApp while posing as the Portuguese coach. The ease with which the deception was established raises concerns regarding data security and identity verification.
Police Action Prevents New Loss
In the case of Leo Ortiz and MC Hariel, the outcome was different. The police, already aware of the scammer’s activities and monitoring his actions, managed to intervene before any money was transferred. Officers proactively alerted the potential victims, preventing the defender and the musician from falling for the same trap, which this time used a different, undisclosed alias.
Modus Operandi and Charges
The investigation indicates that Lucas de Oliveira Eduardo was part of a group that created fake profiles on messaging apps, even using photos of Luis Castro to lend credibility to their requests for PIX transfers. The suspect has been remanded in custody and will face charges of fraud by electronic means and false identity, as formalized by the court.
Other Victims and Progress of Operation ‘Falso 9’
The list of people contacted by the same scammer includes other prominent figures in football, such as Gremio defender Walter Kannemann and former player Andres D’Alessandro. Both, however, were suspicious of the messages and contacted authorities before being defrauded. The operation, codenamed ‘Falso 9’, is ongoing as officials look to identify other potential accomplices and gather further evidence.
“It is a relief that the authorities alerted Leo Ortiz in time, preventing the extortion. It leaves us wondering which identity the criminal used to approach the Flamengo defender,” commented the M360 Team.
The arrest of Lucas de Oliveira Eduardo is a significant step in combating digital crimes targeting sports figures. The incident reinforces the importance of heightened awareness among athletes and high-profile individuals regarding potential fraudulent contact. The continuation of Operation ‘Falso 9’ is expected to provide further details and help strengthen security against these types of scams in the football landscape.
M360 Team
