A bizarre story surfaced out of Brazil recently where a woman, Érika de Souza Vieira, is facing charges after trying to secure a loan using a deceased 68-year-old man. A report by The Guardian details how Vieira was taken into custody after wheeling the dead man into an Itaú bank branch in Bangu, Rio de Janeiro, in an attempt to fraudulently obtain a 17,000 Reais ($3,250) loan.
Vieira’s behavior with the man, identified as Paulo Roberto Braga, raised suspicion among the bank employees who noticed his very poor health. This led them to alert emergency services. Shockingly, it was soon discovered that Braga was already dead, despite Vieira trying to make him “sign” the loan document by holding his hand and moving the pen.
Vieira was soon arrested and has been accused of corpse desecration and attempted fraud, as stated in The Guardian report.
Investigator Fábio Luiz Souza confirmed the man had been dead for about two hours prior, according to the post-mortem report. He added, as cited in O Dia, a Rio newspaper, that thorough investigations are being done to identify other family members and determine if Braga was alive when the loan was being acquired.
Contrary to the charges, Vieira’s legal representative argues that she maintained that Braga was alive when they arrived at the bank.
The news, especially the footage of Vieira’s actions, has astounded social media users. Investigator Fábio Luiz Souza revealed his shock to The Guardian, stating he has never dealt with such a case in his 22-year career.
Authorities are currently probing Vieira’s relationship with Braga to clear any suspicions regarding her actions.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What measures are banks implementing to curb such fraudulent activity involving deceased individuals?
Banks employ numerous advanced identity verification mechanisms and they also cross-check with official death registries to ensure the customer requesting for a loan is alive. In addition, should there be any suspicion, they are encouraged to contact emergency services immediately, as was demonstrated in this case.
What are the legal consequences for such an act of fraud and corpse desecration?
The exact legal repercussions vary by jurisdiction, but in most cases, such acts are considered serious offenses and may result in imprisonment, significant fines, and a permanent criminal record.
How can individuals protect their deceased loved ones from being victims of such fraudulent acts?
To prevent any potential abuse of a deceased person’s information, it is important to immediately notify all relevant institutions, including banks, of their death. Furthermore, the deceased person’s documents should be securely stored or destroyed to prevent misuse.
