They were promised a house, documents and a car: Brazilian immigrants complain to the court that they were victims of fraud

Brazilian immigrants handed over thousands of euros from their savings to a citizen of their country living in Portugal, who promised them a house, documents and even a car, but upon arrival in Lisbon they had nothing and are now going to court.

Some even paid for tickets to Lisbon, which they only realized at the airport of departure as fake as they had to buy new tickets because it was “impossible to return” after they had sold almost everything in order to emigrate.

Others even took out loans to give to a compatriot they met through Facebook or on the recommendation of people close to them.

But only two of these alleged fraud victims agreed to give their face and name and speak to Lusa.

The person they are complaining about is the same person who was very good with them on the phone, also a Brazilian immigrant in Portugal who seemed “really reliable” because he even made video calls with current landlords and dealership salesmen.

“I sold the car, I sold the motorcycle, and I also took out a loan to give her money, which I still pay in 12 installments,” said Kleses Lima de Matos, 32, a Brazilian citizen, who arrived. in Portugal on October 12, 2022 with her two youngest daughters, still convinced that she rented a house in Golega to live with her two children until her husband arrived.

Kleses came from Ecuador, her husband’s country, where she lived for several years, and when she arrived at the airport to fly to Lisbon, she learned from the airline services that the ticket she bought from a compatriot was a fake.

However, she bought herself and her daughters new round trip tickets because she still believed that at least she would have a house when she arrived.

“Just to give you an idea, my code was the same as when crossing Valdesir,” the immigrant said, referring to another immigrant from Brazil who also complained about being scammed by the same person and agreed to give his face and name. to denounce Lusa’s situations and to be Cléses’ witness in his Portuguese court case.

“I came because I had everything planned, and I had a house, supposedly, which will be in Golegai. (…) I never imagined that someone could do this with a mother, with an autistic daughter, in search of a better life. “, emphasized.

But when the mother and two daughters arrived in Lisbon, no one was waiting for them at the airport. When Klezes realized that the ticket he had was fake, he approached the alleged scammer for a refund, including a deposit on the house. But “she blocked me,” he told Luce.

According to this Brazilian immigrant, the last message she received from a woman she complains about and who has documents confirming her involvement in the migration process was to be careful because “she did not know who she was contacting she concluded. .

So he asked his friend for a house and help from the Red Cross and welfare in Portugal. Now he lives in a rented room in Santarém with his two daughters and even with help, where he received Lusa and lent himself to tell the whole story, showing documents.

According to Klézes, a Brazilian immigrant living in Portugal, whom she met on Facebook and whom she trusted so much, according to information that also came to her through Facebook, “disappeared” in Belgium, where her husband lives and works.

In total, he said that before leaving Ecuador, he handed over “2650 euros” to this compatriot. With regard to this value, he assures that he has not returned anything so far and that even the Portuguese police have lost hope that it can be returned.

According to the Brazilian immigrant, it was precisely because she wanted to have a well-planned emigration that she decided to hire someone to take care of everything in Portugal, and chose this person because she “passed the test, photographed the families already stabilized here.” she explained.

So, in July last year, Klezes began communicating with his compatriot and in the same month made the first payments for his consultations and paperwork.

“She even gave the names of people who did not even know about the crime she was committing in order to get money for her,” said Klezes, who, however, always considered it mandatory to “pay on behalf” of the alleged fraudster, starting from the amount of 350 euros for consultation.

“After that, she even asked me for 6,000 euros” for a mortgage and rent, he said. “And I just didn’t give, because I didn’t have it, otherwise I would have given, and then I only contributed a thousand, which would only be a deposit and rent, and also 300 euros for the letter of invitation that she sells.”

After visiting Portugal, Kleses says the threats from the man he accuses of fraud were strong. “He said on the phone that he was going to stab me when I was at the mall and that he was going to shoot me on a motorcycle, terrible things,” he said.

Thus, he decided to file a complaint with the PSP in Santarém “both about the coup and about the threats sent by him”. The complaint has been accepted and has already gone to court, three witnesses have been named who will testify, people who were already at the house of the alleged scammer and when they arrived at the address she gave the buyers, it was already empty, he said.

According to the Brazilian woman, three of her witnesses were victims of the fraudulent actions of the same person. In total, I think, 18 people. “After a post I made on Facebook telling a short story, eighteen people came up to me and congratulated me and also [contando] who fell” in the coup, but did not file a complaint.

Kleses suggests that this is due to fear of retribution, deportation, or shame. “Because it even affected me, my self-esteem, because no one has deceived me yet.”

This is not the case of 32-year-old Valdesir Bravo, who, like Klezes, has agreed to talk to Lusa and promises to follow through so that others do not become victims.

Despite this, the “dream” of life in Portugal remains strong for these two Brazilians, especially for the safety and education of their children.

Asked why he chose Portugal as his destination, Kleses replies: “Because it’s a safe country, the education is of excellent quality” and “because there are a lot of Brazilians here” he feels “a bit at home”.