Operation 'Refund': second phase is carried out in Juiz de Fora, Leopoldina and Belmiro Braga A criminal organization specialized in card cloning and bank fraud generated R$45 million in less than five years, according to the Civil Police. The balance was released by the Civil Police on Tuesday (16), after the launch of the second phase of the "Refund" operation. The group was led by young people aged 20 to 30 who used the money from embezzlement to finance a high-end lifestyle, with travel and designer clothes. In total, 10 people have been arrested since the investigation began. The names were not disclosed. ✅ Click here to follow the g1 Zona da Mata channel on WhatsApp According to the delegate responsible for the case, Márcio Rocha, the financial volume and technical structure caught the attention of the authorities: "In less than five years, these people turned over approximately 45 million, so we're not talking about any 'little fraud'. Even though they're young and it doesn't seem like they're doing anything that big, it's a criminal organization and it has to be fought," the delegate highlighted. How the group acted According to investigations, the scheme operated in a network connecting Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and Paraná. The criminal nucleus operated from Juiz de Fora and divided the fraud into three stages: Data purchase: Leaders purchased leaked lists of account holders with high purchasing power in Rio de Janeiro. Kidnapping and mirroring: With the data, the gang transferred the victim's telephone line to a chip controlled by the group. Money laundering: With full access to the accounts, they made transfers and Pix. To dispose of the amounts, the group bought luxury products on e-commerce sites and used cloned cards on tampered machines from partner merchants in the Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais. "During this period that the person is prevented from accessing the applications, they mirror that phone and access the bank's application and, ultimately, commit various crimes in the applications that they can access", explained the delegate. History of arrests and seizures The scheme began to be dismantled in November 2025, in joint action by the civil police of Minas Gerais, Paraná and Rio de Janeiro. The investigation began in Paraná, with a complaint from a victim. The first information brought elements that the crime had been articulated from Juiz de Fora. Phase 1 Watercraft seized during operation in Juiz de Fora Marcus Pena/TV Integração 10 search warrants and five arrests were carried out in Juiz de Fora. The 23-year-old suspect was located in the Paineiras neighborhood, while the 21-year-old suspect was located in the Center, both on a warrant. Among the arrests in the act, one of them took place in the Jardim Laranjeiras neighborhood, where a 29-year-old man was arrested for illegal possession of a firearm and receiving it. In a business in the Santa Luzia neighborhood, a 43-year-old man under investigation was arrested for royal favoritism and disobedience. In the Ipiranga neighborhood, another suspect, aged 27, was caught for the crime of receiving goods. At the time, police seized luxury goods, vehicles, a jet ski and a firearm. Phase 2 The new stage arrested five people under investigation, aged between 22 and 28 years old, in the Santa Luzia, Santos Dumont, Monte Castelo, Caiçaras and Marilândia neighborhoods, in Juiz de Fora. A sixth suspect broke the electronic ankle monitor in Belmiro Braga and fled. Cell phones, chips, bank cards, cash and designer products purchased fraudulently were seized. Those investigated are responsible for criminal organization, embezzlement, bank fraud and money laundering. The Civil Police reported that they will continue investigations to identify other businesses involved and locate the fugitive suspect. Materials seized during the second phase of the 'Estorno' operation, in Juiz de Fora, Leopoldina and Belmiro Braga Civil Police/Disclosure READ ALSO: Civil Police dismantle a gang that carried out bank fraud and 'hijacking' telephone lines in MG, RJ and PR; five were arrested Five suspects are detained in a new phase of operation against card cloning in Juiz de Fora and region VIDEOS: see everything about Zona da Mata and Campos das Vertentes