Brazilian woman, 27, who lured men using dating apps to be kidnapped and robbed by gang led by former boyfriend is arrested
A 27-year-old woman and her 20-year-old man are behind bars in Brazil after allegedly kidnapping and robbing of victims she lured through dating apps.
Letícia Nicolau and her boyfriend, Pedro Gonçalves, were apprehended at their home in the southern city of Caraguatatuba on Wednesday after the São Paulo Civil Police obtained an arrest warrant.
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 that was led by her former boyfriend Mickael Rodriguez.
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.
Letícia Gomes (right) and her boyfriend Pedro Gonçalves (left) were arrested Wednesday in the southeastern Brazilian state of São Paulo as part of the state Civil Police's investigation into their role with a gang that targeted victims that Gomes lured on dating apps before they were abducted and robbed
Letícia Gomes is escorted out of her home in home in Caraguatatuba, a city in the southeastern Brazilian state of São Paulo. Gomes reportedly used multiple dating apps to sweet talk men into meeting her before a gang led by her former boyfriend kidnapped and robbed them
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Despite no longer dating Nicolau, Rodriguez was able to convince her current boyfriend Gonçalves’ into joining the theft gang.
Together, Nicolau and Gonçalves’ splurged using the money they stole from the men on a lavish style of living that included romantic dinners, shopping and vacations to 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, including a teenager.
She and Gonçalves were placed under house arrest but continued to target victims.
Letícia Gomes used at least 20 profiles as part of the plot to lure men she met on dating apps before she were kidnapped, threatened with murder and then robbed by a gang led by her former boyfriend. Her current boyfriend also participated in the crimes
Letícia Gomes used the money that as stolen from men she met on dating apps to dine, party and 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.
According to São Paulo police records, at least 52 women were used by gangs to bait 168 men via dating apps from January 2021 to January of this year in São Paulo and nearby cities. At least five victims were murdered by their kidnappers.
A unit assigned to the anti-kidnapping division arrested six women in 2021 and 19 other suspects in 2022. Another 25 arrests were reported last year. At least 460 male suspects were apprehended during the three-year stretch.