Brazilian Police Bust Massive Streaming Fraud Scheme with 28 Million Fake Plays
A major streaming fraud operation has been uncovered in Brazil, resulting in the arrest of an individual responsible for generating 28 million fake plays on streaming platforms. The perpetrator earned approximately $65,000 through the scheme, with authorities seizing over $400,000 in assets.
Scrabble tiles spelling fraud
The investigation, dubbed Operation Out of Tune, was a collaborative effort between IFPI, Pro-Música Brasil, and APDIF (Association for the Protection of Phonographic Intellectual Rights). The Cyber Gaeco unit of the Goias State Prosecutor's Office made the arrest in December.
The fraudulent activity involved:
- Uploading 500+ fake tracks to Spotify
- Generating 28 million artificial plays
- Stealing 36 tracks from local composers through WhatsApp groups
- Creating fake artist profiles
Victoria Oakley, IFPI CEO, condemned the activity as "theft — stealing directly from artists and betraying fans." Paulo Rosa, President of Pro-Música Brasil, emphasized that stream manipulation remains one of the music sector's primary concerns.
Investigators also discovered the use of generative AI to create music tracks, though this aspect isn't currently included in the criminal charges. This finding highlights the emerging role of AI in stream manipulation schemes and raises questions about its legal implications in the music industry.
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