AGU sees signs of use of cryptocurrencies in INSS fraud
Union Attorney General Jorge Messias said on Thursday (8) that there is “strong evidence” that criminal organizations involved in fraud against retirees and pensioners of the National Institute of Social Security (INSS) are using cryptocurrencies to hide the diverted money.
“There is strong evidence that these groups and criminal organizations are using cryptocurrency for the patrimonial deviation of fraud perpetrated against retirees and pensioners,” Messiah said during a press conference at Planalto Palace.
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“If you need the complementary union, we will complement it, but we will complement with public money. So we have to have the responsibility to only restore to those who should,” said the minister
The minister’s statement is based on investigative data that revealed a billionaire scheme of illegal discounts on social security benefits, which injured millions of INSS policyholders. According to Messiah, the use of cryptors has been a frequent strategy of these groups to avoid tracking money and dribble tax control.
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Blocking of goods and seizure of passports
Given the signs of hiding of heritage in crypto, the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU), in partnership with AGU, determined the blockade of 12 entities investigated. The blocked amount reaches R $ 2.56 billion, including furniture and properties that were in possession of those involved.
“The activities of the required associative entities were also suspended, so that they cannot continue to delinch even in relation to the INSS or in relation to any other citizen,” added Messiah.
In addition, the passports of the leaders of the entities were seized, preventing them from leaving Brazil. AGU and CGU also sent offices to cryptocurrency brokers, requesting the tracking and blocking of possible crypto assets in possession of the investigated.
International Tracking and Fighting Deviation
Messiah stressed that the measures are part of a government coordinated effort to recover the amounts diverted and ensure that those responsible are held responsible. The strategy includes not only the blockade of goods and accounts in Brazil, but also a search for assets outside the country, including cryptors.
“From the reports in the investigation data, there is a strategy of patrimonial concealment outside Brazil. We are adopting a request for dispatch of office to cryptocurrency brokerages to locate and pledge existing values,” he explained.
Understand the case
The INSS fraud scheme was revealed by the Federal Police (PF) Operation without Discount (PF), which identified a scheme of irregular discounts on pensions. The coup consisted of associating retirees and pensioners with entities without their knowledge and performing direct payroll discounts.
The government has already announced that it will reimburse the injured policyholders and are adopting measures to hold the entities involved, which include from unions and class associations to business groups.
