Itapema scammer sentenced to prison for posing as a celebrity advisor and extorting victims
A scammer from Itapema has been sentenced to prison for posing as a celebrity advisor and extorting money from his victims. The man managed to fool one person, who invested R$ 350,000 believing he was negotiating advertising campaigns with celebrities. To keep up the charade, he created fake profiles of the artists on social media.
The scammer was arrested for embezzlement, wire fraud and extortion, after threatening to publish sexy images of the client in question. He was sentenced to 9 years and 4 months in prison, in a closed regime, and will have to return the amount extorted from the victim. The judge pointed out that there was sufficient evidence of the crime of embezzlement, highlighting the defendant's intention to obtain an illicit advantage to the detriment of others.
The decision does not allow the defendant to go free, and he can appeal to the Santa Catarina Court of Justice in Florianópolis. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of checking the veracity of information and profiles on social networks, to avoid falling for similar scams.