A social media influencer in Brazil has been arrested after police alleged that she staged her own kidnapping in an attempt to gain attention and boost her online following.
Monniky Fraga, 27, was taken into custody nearly a year after she shared a dramatic story with her followers, claiming she and her husband had been abducted at gunpoint.
At the time, Fraga told her audience of around 48,000 followers that she and her husband, Lucas, were approached by three armed men outside their home.
She claimed the pair were forced into their car, taken to a wooded area, and held hostage for hours while the attackers demanded money and valuables.
Fraga also alleged that her husband was beaten during the incident and that they were only released after a ransom was paid.
However, after launching an investigation, authorities said they found evidence suggesting the kidnapping was not real.
Detective Cley Anderson stated that the case appeared to be a planned setup involving Fraga and at least one of the suspects.
“As the investigation progressed, it found indications that the alleged kidnap-for-ransom was in fact nothing more than a plot between the supposed victim and one of the perpetrators,” he said.
In a surprising twist, police said Fraga’s husband may not have known about the plan.
Investigators said he has consistently maintained that he believed the kidnapping was real the entire time.
Authorities also said multiple people were involved in the alleged scheme. One suspect is already in prison for unrelated crimes, while another died before an arrest warrant could be issued. A third person, believed to have received ransom money, had their home searched.
Fraga is now facing several charges, including blackmail, perverting the course of justice, and wasting police time.
Her legal team has requested that she be placed under house arrest, citing that she has young children.
Despite the allegations, Fraga reportedly insists that the kidnapping did happen.
The case remains under investigation as authorities continue to examine the details of the incident.
