Maria Karollyny Campos Ferreira, better known as Karol Digital, was arrested in Tocantins state last week alongside her partner. The influencer had built her brand around an extreme luxury lifestyle that captivated 1.5 million followers—designer clothes, yachts, and sports cars worth millions, including one McLaren that cost over BR$3m.
But Karol wasn’t always living this high. Her criminal record stretches back to 2015, when federal authorities first targeted her for fraud. She was later imprisoned twice for armed robbery.
After serving house arrest, she repositioned herself as a rehabilitation success story. Within a decade, she’d transformed into a millionaire through online gambling promotions—or so it seemed.
Why This Case Matters for Brazil’s Gaming Market
Police say Karol moved BR$217m between 2019 and 2024, roughly $39.5m in what could be one of the industry’s biggest alleged scams. The scheme was surprisingly simple yet effective.
“The public believed she was playing and winning, when in fact the supposed prizes were mostly payments from companies,” explained Police Chief Wanderson Queiroz. She’d fake gambling wins to drive followers toward unlicensed betting platforms, with fans thinking they were watching real gameplay instead of paid promotions.
It worked because followers trusted her lifestyle content—they assumed her wealth came from legitimate gambling success rather than deception.
What Triggered the Investigation
The case began in 2023 when Karol made a purchase that raised eyebrows: a BR$4m mansion bought entirely with cash. This caught attention from Tocantins prosecutors, since cash purchases of that size typically trigger money laundering investigations.
Police eventually charged her with illegal gambling operations, money laundering, corruption and criminal association covering five years of alleged activity. Last week, courts froze everything—properties, bank accounts, luxury cars and boats, including that pink, grey and black yacht she’d recently unveiled to her followers.
How Brazil Plans to Handle Gaming Influencer Fraud
If convicted, Karol faces over 10 years in prison. Her legal team is calling the investigation unlawful and has announced plans to appeal to Brazil’s Supreme Court, though the asset freeze remains in place during appeals.
The timing couldn’t be more significant. São Paulo just launched a specialised gambling addiction treatment program, and Brazil is clearly tightening oversight of online gambling promotion.
Other influencers promoting betting platforms are undoubtedly watching this case closely, it sets a clear precedent for how authorities will handle suspected fake gambling content. Karol’s arrest signals that Brazil won’t tolerate influencers deceiving followers about gambling wins, especially when unlicensed operators are involved.
