Federal Police operation combats fraud in INSS benefits.
Criminals allegedly caused losses of R$ 13 million.
Brazil Agency - The Federal Police launched Operation Melhor Idade on Tuesday morning (23), which investigates fraud in receiving the Continuous Benefit Payment (BPC) for the Elderly.
In total, five preventive arrest warrants and 15 search and seizure warrants are being executed in two states – Piauí and Goiás – and in the Federal District. The losses to public coffers amount to R$ 13 million.
The BPC guarantees a minimum wage per month to seniors aged 65 or older, provided that the per capita income of the family group is equal to or less than 1/4 of the minimum wage.
Investigation
According to the investigations, the criminal organization had been operating since 2012, creating fictitious individual taxpayer registration numbers (CPFs) to obtain the BPC (Continuous Cash Benefit).
The Federal Police identified the creation of 268 fake CPF numbers (Brazilian taxpayer identification numbers) belonging to individuals over 65 years old, who allegedly obtained 208 benefits using these documents.
After the police presented the evidence from the investigation, the Federal District Court ordered the cancellation of the 151 still-active benefits, which were generating annual losses of approximately R$ 2,7 million, and the freezing of real estate, vehicles, and accounts, worth R$ 13 million, linked to the suspects and the fraudulent CPF numbers (Brazilian taxpayer identification numbers).
The court order also provides for the cancellation of CPF numbers (Brazilian taxpayer ID numbers), the immediate suspension of benefits obtained, the freezing of bank accounts, restrictions on vehicles and real estate, as well as any companies registered in connection with the fraudulent benefits.