The Federal Police and the Ministry of Social Security launched on Tuesday (6) Operation Egregore, aiming to dismantle a criminal association specializing in fraud against the National Institute of Social Security (INSS). The group, according to investigations, even created false identities of elderly to obtain improper care benefits.
Three pre -trial detention warrants and eight search and seizure warrants were served in the municipalities of Belo Horizonte, Contagem and Betim, in Minas Gerais. The operation occurs after months of investigation over the operation of the scheme, which would have lasted almost two decades.
According to the Federal Police, the group falsified birth certificates, identity documents and proof of residence to register fictional persons in the Social Security system. In at least ten cases, actual elderly have passed up to 40 false identities, receiving monthly payments for multiple records.
The estimated damage to the public coffers exceeds R $ 11.5 million. The operation also avoided an additional damage of R $ 5.2 million, with the benefit blockage under analysis or in the initial payment phase.
Those involved may be responsible for the crimes of qualified estelionate and criminal association. The INSS should reinforce the processes of verification and validation of beneficiaries registrations in response to the new front of fraud revealed by the operation.
