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A Brazilian fraudster accused of duping dozens of women he met on Tinder with fake promises of love, marriage and wealth has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison.
The ruling involving just one of his victims was handed down in Caraguatatuba on 1st June after judges convicted 27-year-old Matheus Rodelo Monteiro Machado of fraud.
The conviction, however, reflects just one of more than 50 alleged romance scams across the country that he carried out primarily using the dating app Tinder.
Court documents said Matheus allegedly posed as a wealthy heir, farmer, cryptocurrency investor and medical student in order to gain the trust of women, before asking them for money.
According to investigators, the suspect used social media platforms and dating apps to approach victims in several Brazilian states.
Police said he convinced women he came from an influential family in the interior of Sao Paulo state and promised them a luxurious future together.
After gaining their confidence, Matheus allegedly persuaded victims to transfer money, hand over credit cards or invest in fake business opportunities.
Authorities also said several women reported suffering psychological abuse after discovering the relationships had been part of an alleged scam.
Victims claimed the suspect made false promises about marriage, children and building a life together before disappearing with their money.
The case gained national attention after Matheus was arrested in Santos in October last year following complaints from women in different parts of Brazil.
Police reportedly found him hiding in the Aparecida neighbourhood of the coastal city during the operation.
Officers seized credit cards, mobile phones, a watch and a vehicle during the arrest.
Brazilian authorities said the suspect faced more than 50 fraud cases nationwide linked to a similar pattern of behaviour.
The sentence was signed by Judge Julio da Silva Branchini and ordered Matheus to serve his punishment under a semi-open prison regime.
Despite the conviction, the 27-year-old was not immediately taken into custody and was allowed to remain free while appealing the ruling.
Defence lawyer Bianca Campos Ferreira described the arrest as illegal and disproportionate to the allegations.
She also said the defence had not yet received full access to the investigation files and argued that early judgments about the case violated the presumption of innocence.
(Marija Stojkoska/Newsflash)
Byline Journalist: Marija Stojkoska
Byline Sub editor: Marija Stojkoska
Byline Spotter: Ivica Stojanovski
Byline Commisioning Editor: Angela Trajkovska
Byline Senior Writer: Mike Leidig
Byline Picture Editor: Joana Mihajlovska
Byline Copychecker: Joana Mihajlovska
Byline Illustrator: Joana Mihajlovska
Byline News Editor: Mike Leidig
Geography: Caraguatatuba
Subject: Crime, Social media, Society
T4 Editor Story Rating: 7
T4 Editor Pic/Vid rating: 7
T4 Total rating: 7
