Federal Police (PF) Dismantle International Pyramid Scheme That Amass R$1.6 Billion

The Federal Police (PF) launched Operation Fantasos on the morning of Wednesday, April 30, 2025, a large-scale action

The Federal Police (PF) launched Operation Fantasos on Wednesday (30/4), a large-scale action aiming to dismantle an international pyramid scheme that defrauded about 100,000 investors in less than two years, collecting approximately R$1.6 billion in Bitcoin. With targets in Petrópolis, in the Serrana Region, and Angra dos Reis, on Rio de Janeiro’s Costa Verde, the operation also had the support of U.S. authorities.

The action follows information exchanges with the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), converging on an investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) into the Trade Coin Club. The scheme, created and led by Douver Torres Braga, 48, began in 2016, capitalizing on the growing global interest in cryptocurrencies.

Promoted as a revolutionary investment opportunity, the Trade Coin Club attracted victims with the promise of an artificial intelligence robot capable of performing “millions of microtransactions per second.” The system would guarantee consistent profits, with minimum returns of 0.35% per day, equivalent to about 11% per month.

However, investigations revealed that the robot never existed and the returns paid to investors came solely from new deposits, in a classic structure of a Ponzi scheme. The SEC's investigation, initiated in 2017, identified Braga as the main orchestrator, diverting at least 8,396 Bitcoins, valued at around US$55 million (about R$280 million at the current rate) at the time of the scheme. These funds were used to finance Braga's lavish lifestyle, purchasing real estate, vehicles, and other high-value assets.

The Federal Court ordered the seizure of assets and funds in the amount of R$1.6 billion, an amount that reflects the value of the funds collected by the criminal group between 2016 and 2018. The order also aims to freeze bank accounts, properties, vehicles, and other assets in Brazil and abroad.

The 11 search and seizure warrants were executed at addresses linked to suspects and companies allegedly used as fronts for money laundering. In Petrópolis, agents seized electric cars from brands like Tesla and Porsche, as well as luxury watches valued at tens of thousands of reais. In Angra dos Reis, a yacht was confiscated.

The operation had the support of U.S. agencies, especially the FBI, HSI, and IRS-CI, who provided information and cooperated in tracking the diverted funds. Braga was arrested in February in Switzerland by Interpol, following an international arrest warrant issued by the SEC. He is currently being extradited to the U.S. to face charges for defrauding over 100,000 investors in several countries.

Trade Coin Club: a promising facade that crumbled

The Trade Coin Club was structured as a multilevel marketing program, with participants encouraged to recruit new investors to earn commissions. This dynamic fueled the scheme’s exponential growth but also hastened its unsustainability. When withdrawals began to outpace deposits in mid-2017, the system collapsed, leaving thousands of investors without access to their funds.

The scheme’s promises were designed to attract those seeking financial independence and interested in the cryptocurrency market. Among the lures were the promise of daily earnings of 0.35% on weekdays, directly credited to investors' accounts, and the possibility of earning commissions for recruiting new members.

However, the scheme's structure and promises presented several red flags. The high and guaranteed rates of return, the pressure to recruit new members, and the lack of transparency regarding the origin of the profits were clear signs of a fraudulent operation.

Despite these indicators, many investors, lured by the promise of quick profits and the scheme's broad reach, disregarded the warnings and fell victim to the Trade Coin Club scam.

The consequences for victims were devastating. Many lost savings accumulated over years, while others faced severe financial difficulties after investing borrowed funds or liquidating assets to participate in the scheme.

The inability to recover funds, due to the decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies and the complexity of tracking transactions, exacerbated the scam’s impact.

As the scheme unfolded, U.S. authorities detected anomalies and initiated investigations, leading to the SEC case and Braga's arrest. The cooperation of Brazilian authorities was crucial in collecting evidence and identifying local individuals involved in promoting the scheme.

The case highlights the importance of financial education and caution when evaluating investment opportunities, especially in the cryptocurrency market, which is known for its volatility and susceptibility to fraudulent schemes.