Gaming Influencer Arrested in Brazil on Charges of Online Sexual Abuse of Minors

Overview

• The arrest of influencer Matheus Di Bernardi Martins, known online as 'Spoteff', took place Tuesday, June 30, when São Paulo police executed Operation Game Over with support from Santa Catarina authorities.
• Police say Martins was temporarily detained for 'estupro de vulnerável virtual' and was also held in flagrante for storing child sexual content after officers found videos and other illicit files on his devices.
• Investigators allege he lured children through gaming platforms such as Roblox by offering in‑game currency and follower boosts in exchange for sexual images, then coerced victims by threatening to expose the material to their families.
• Forensic teams have seized a computer and a cellphone from his home in Florianópolis and are analyzing the files, with authorities warning that the two victims identified so far may be only the beginning.
• The suspect's defense invoked the presumption of innocence and noted the case is under segredo de justiça while police urge parents to monitor children’s online contacts and report suspicious approaches to Disque 100 or Disque 181.