Brazil Influencer Karol Digital Arrested Over Gambling Scheme

razilian authorities have arrested social media influencer Maria Karollyny Campos Ferreira, widely known as Karol Digital, after accusing her of leading one of the country’s largest illegal gambling operations. The arrest took place in Tocantins, where police confirmed her preventive detention alongside her partner.

Good to Know

• Authorities estimate BR217 million flowed through the scheme between 2019 and 2024.
• Karol Digital has 1.5 million followers across her social media platforms.
• A court has already frozen her assets, including a BR4m mansion and luxury cars.

Investigators allege Karol promoted unlicensed betting sites by faking gambling wins, convincing followers she was collecting massive payouts. Police Chief Wanderson Queiroz explained:

“The public believed she was playing and winning, when in fact the supposed prizes were mostly payments from companies.”

The numbers are staggering. Over five years, authorities say more than BR217 million moved through her accounts. The scheme reportedly allowed her to fund a lavish lifestyle, which became part of her online persona. Karol’s feeds showcased yachts, designer brands, luxury mansions, and sports cars — including a McLaren valued at more than BR3 million. In one of her recent posts, she unveiled a personalized yacht in shades of pink, grey, and black.

Suspicion grew in 2023 when Karol purchased a BR4 million mansion in cash, triggering a deeper probe by the Tocantins Public Prosecutor’s Office. That investigation connected her wealth to unlicensed gambling promotions and eventually exposed what police describe as a criminal network.

Her history with law enforcement stretches back years. Police revealed she was previously investigated for fraud in 2015 and later served prison time for armed robbery. After a period under house arrest, Karol publicly styled herself as someone who had rebuilt her life. But prosecutors allege she later turned her reach into a lucrative gambling promotion business, amassing millions within a decade.

Last week, a court ordered the freezing of all her properties and bank accounts. Her defense team claims the case is unlawful and intends to appeal to Brazil’s Supreme Court. If convicted, Karol could face a sentence of more than 10 years.

The post Brazil Influencer Karol Digital Arrested Over Gambling Scheme appeared first on iGaming.org.