Brazilian Andorra Resident Jailed in Portugal for AI Fraud on Sick Child's Fundraiser

A 36-year-old Brazilian man officially registered as a resident in Andorra has been remanded in custody in Portugal on charges of computer fraud, aggravated fraud, and money laundering.

Jhon Wayne Santos Souza, who presented himself online as a trader running the Perky Task platform, was arrested on Thursday by Portugal's Judicial Police in a university residence in Braga, where he was staying illegally without a fixed address. A judge from Braga court ordered his preventive detention on Saturday following an initial hearing, citing the unquantified scale of the alleged fraud, flight risk, and lack of recovered funds.

Portuguese authorities accuse him of setting up fake online fundraising pages and social media profiles exploiting the plight of Rodrigo, a nine-year-old boy with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare degenerative condition. The boy's parents had launched a legitimate campaign to buy a specialised wheelchair and adapted vehicle after he lost the ability to walk. Donors reached the fraudulent sites via social media ads. Videos on the pages featured supposed public figures discussing the case and even the child recounting his story, but investigators say all content was fabricated using artificial intelligence.

The parents reported the scheme to police upon discovering it, prompting a swift probe. Officers seized multiple phones and computers from the residence, which they believe were used to manage the operation. Authorities suspect he routed funds through Portuguese and international bank accounts, possibly involving intermediaries, with some potentially converted to cryptocurrencies, complicating recovery efforts.

Santos Souza had resided in Andorra since 2005 and began posing as a trader in 2017. While no formal police complaints against him are recorded there, sources describe him soliciting loans from locals and others for supposed investments, debts, illnesses, or thefts—promising returns that never materialised. He reportedly faced threats over tens of thousands of euros in unpaid sums, which may have prompted his flight to Portugal. His now-private Instagram had showcased a lavish lifestyle with luxury cars, business-class travel, and stays in Dubai.

In May, after SIC Noticias exposed the case, he denied involvement, claiming Perky Task merely processed payments and promising to return blocked funds—none of which reached the family or donors. Recently, he shut down the platform, blaming a hacker attack.