Police investigate AI-driven fraud scheme targeting notaries in Brazil
Police in Brazil conducted coordinated operations targeting a criminal organization accused of using artificial intelligence in video calls to deceive notary employees and fraudulently obtain powers of attorney for bank account access. Electronic devices were seized for forensic analysis as investigators work to identify all participants and calculate financial losses.
What happened
Police in Santa Catarina, Bahia and Ceará conducted search and seizure operations on 20 January 2026 targeting a criminal group suspected of using artificial intelligence in a large-scale fraud scheme. The group reportedly invoked digital platforms to obtain powers of attorney with high potential for bank account movement and used AI in video calls to deceive notary employees.
Investigations indicated that criminals simulated the identity of third parties in video calls using artificial intelligence to enable fraudulent notarization. Forged documents were then registered at notary offices in Florianópolis and Joinville in Santa Catarina. Six search warrants were executed across four locations in Bahia, one in Ceará and one in Santa Catarina, with electronic devices seized for technical forensic analysis.
Reported impact
Notary offices in Florianópolis and Joinville were victimized by the scheme, which targeted bank accounts through fraudulently notarized powers of attorney. The investigation aims to identify all individuals involved and quantify the losses to victims.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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