PF fulfills warrants against social security crimes and Brazil Aid in 12 states

Two Federal Police operations are carried out this Tuesday morning (7) against groups suspected of participating in social security crimes and fraud in the granting of Auxílio Brasil benefits in 12 states of the country. In all, 70 search and seizure warrants and two arrest warrants are served.

In one of the operations, called Apateones, agents investigate fraud in the granting of Emergency Aid in the states of Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Paraná, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondônia, São Paulo and Tocantins, in addition to the Federal District. There are 47 search and seizure warrants and two arrest warrants.

The investigation, which began in 2020, points out that the group would have moved more than R$ 50 million with more than 10,000 fraudulent accounts. At least 37 people would be involved in the scheme, according to the PF.

According to the calculation of the Integrated Action Strategy against Frauds to Emergency Aid (EIAFAE), the fraud began with the irregular granting of 91 benefits in the amount of R$ 54.6 thousand, diverted to two bank accounts of individuals and companies in the municipality of Indaiatuba (SP).

The initial tracking of transactions indicated that part of those involved were located in the states of Goiás and Rondônia, the latter place of residence of family members of the individual residing in Indaiatuba. In a second stage of the investigation, says the PF, “it was verified that the beneficiaries in question received amounts from about 360 Emergency Aid accounts defrauded through payment of slips and bank transfers”.

From this, the calculation identified the high values ​​moved through the analysis of documents from the Financial Intelligence Reports (RIF). In addition to the PF, the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of Citizenship, Caixa, the Federal Revenue Service, the Comptroller General’s Office and the Federal Audit Court also participated in the investigation.

INSS fraud

As for the other operation, called Balaio, investigations pointed to a deviation of R$ 81 million from INSS coffers with the granting of around 400 pension benefits for the death of rural workers in the states of Piauí and Maranhão. 23 search and seizure warrants are executed and the judicial blocking of R$ 19 million in the bank accounts of 13 people.

According to investigations by the Federal Police with the Coordination of Social Security Intelligence (COINP), four INSS employees facilitated the granting of benefits “in collusion with intermediaries from various municipalities”, using false documentation and directing the granting requirements.