Two top Brazilian professional football players have accused a fellow pro of convincing them to invest in a fraudulent crypto project, sparking legal proceedings against a consultancy and financial planning firm named WLJC.
Mayke, who plays at Palmeiras, along with Gustavo Scarpa, a Nottingham Forest midfielder, claim they invested over $2 million in “crypto” on the advice of WLJC in May 2022. Both players claim that they were introduced to the project by Willian Bigode, who runs WLJC and plays at Fluminense in Brazil’s top division. WLJC had recommended that Mayke and Scarpa invest their funds in Xland Holding, a platform that the Public Ministry of the Brazilian state of Acre later identified as a possible financial pyramid scheme.
The situation with the footballers is the latest in a series of crypto scams in Brazil. Cryptocurrency scams in the country have become increasingly common, with fraudsters using social media to promote fraudulent investment opportunities.
Top Brazilian Footballers Sue Over Alleged Crypto Scam
