A 27-year-old man has been arrested in the municipality of Sintra on suspicion of committing several crimes, including fraud. The Polícia Judiciária (PJ) reports that although the man resides in Portugal, he was “recruited” and “trained” by a foreign-based criminal organization dedicated to cryptocurrency investment fraud.
According to inspectors, in a statement sent this Friday, the detained suspect is of foreign nationality and is “strongly suspected of committing the crimes of aggravated fraud, computer and communication fraud, computer forgery, and unauthorized access.”
Despite residing in Portugal, the PJ further explains, the suspect “continues to maintain connections with internationally operating structures in a versatile and multifaceted manner, aimed at creating and managing fictitious investment platforms, identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities in potential investors, and implementing mechanisms for fund concealment, causing significant financial losses to numerous victims in different geographies.”
In light of the authorities’ suspicions, a home search was conducted on the citizen in question, during which “various computing devices were seized and a vast collection of documents and digital materials was gathered, demonstrating the illicit activity carried out.”
The man has already appeared for an initial judicial interrogation, during which measures of periodic reporting, passport confiscation, and restricted access to computer platforms were imposed.
The investigation is being led by the Prosecutor’s Office for the General Jurisdiction Court of Ponte de Sôr.
Following this recent arrest related to cryptocurrency crimes, the PJ issued a set of guidelines:
- If you intend to invest in the cryptocurrency market, first seek information from official sources, namely the CMVM and the Bank of Portugal;
- Investment opportunities that appear on social networks should be verified with official entities;
- Do not be deceived by promises of guaranteed and immediate returns. This does not exist in this market;
- Be wary of direct and insistent contacts if you have just registered on an investment platform discovered through social media;
- Do not allow the installation of remote access programs on your computer or mobile phone;
- Do not permit direct access to your accounts by third parties. No one will help you make money;
- If you have never worked with or do not have experience with financial applications, do not venture into opportunities that appear in online ads or news.
