Brazilian woman accused of luring men through dating apps – who wind up being kidnapped and robbed by gang led by her ex, that specializes in robberies

Letícia Nicolau, 27, and her current boyfriend, Pedro Gonçalves, 20, were arrested Wednesday at their home in the southern city of Caraguatatuba in the state of São Paulo

Nicolau allegedly set up over 20 profiles on dating sites, to catfish the men and lure them to bogus dates at ostensibly innocuous locations which do not rouse any suspicions

Victims were then abducted by gang members – often threatened with death before relenting and wiring money from their bank accounts via PIX, a Brazilian government-operated instant payment system

The gang was led by that was led by Nicolau’s former boyfriend Mickael Rodriguez Paz

Internet fraudster Letícia Gomes [right] and co-conspirator Pedro Gonçalves [left] were arrested Wednesday in the southeastern state of São Paulo, Brasil, part of police’s investigation into their role in a gang that lured and robbed victims. Gomes allegedly would lure targets on dating apps before they were abducted and robbed

A 27-year-old woman and her 20-year-old partner are behind bars in Brasil after allegedly kidnapping and robbing of victims she lured through dating apps.
The Anti-Kidnapping Division [DAS] of the Civil Police of Sao Paulo on Thursday arrested the 26-year-old Letícia Nicolau and her boyfriend, Pedro Gonçalves, at their home in the southern city of Caraguatatuba and executed a search warrant.
The woman allegedly has more than 20 profiles on social media platforms which have been used to catfish and lure male targets and setting up bogus dates on behalf of a gang that specializes in kidnappings and robberies.

Letícia Gomes DAS said, used at least 20 online profiles as part of the plot to lure men she met on dating apps before she were kidnapped, threatened with murder, then robbed by a gang led by her former boyfriend. Her current boyfriend also participated in the crimes

Nicolau allegedly set up profiles on dating sites, cozying up to men into meeting her, authorities said.
The victims were invited to meeting points that didn’t rouse any suspicions and were then abducted and robbed by members of a gang, led by her former boyfriend, Mickael Rodriguez Paz.
The men were often threatened with death before relenting and wiring money from their bank accounts via PIX, a Brazilian government-operated instant payment system that is similar to Zelle, Venmo and Cash App.

Agents of the state Civil Police escort Letícia Gomes out of her home in home in Caraguatatuba, São Paulo. Gomes reportedly used multiple dating apps to set up bogus dates with men. A gang led by her ex boyfriend would then kidnap and rob the victims

Despite no longer dating Nicolau, Rodriguez was able to convince her current boyfriend Gonçalves’ into joining the gang that specializes in robberies.
The pair of Nicolau and Gonçalves’ splurged the ill-gotten loot financing a lavish life style that included romantic dinners, shopping and lux vacations to international watering holes such as Dubai and Cancún.
Nicolau, who had more than 20 social media profiles, was arrested for the first time in March 2023 alongside Rodriguez, Gonçalves and three suspects, one of them a teenager.
She and Gonçalves were placed under house arrest but continued to target victims.

Photos and videos seized by police at the couple’s apt show that Letícia Gomes spent the money stolen from men she met on dating apps to finance a life style of fine dinning, partying and luxury international vacations in cities like Cancún and Dubai

Authorities seized several cell phones, cash, a calculator and a gun following Wednesday’s raid at the home shared by Letícia Gomes and her boyfriend 

Nicolau was arrested again February, but was released after her attorney obtained a preliminary injunction.
The third time was the charm, for São Paulo authorities, when they raided the home she shared with Gonçalves on Wednesday
Gomes had been involved in at least six incidents as of February. 
It’s unknown if she had targeted any more victims leading up to her arrest.