Massive Streaming Fraud Uncovered in Brazil: 28 Million Fake Plays Lead to Arrest
Brazilian authorities have uncovered a major streaming fraud case, arresting an individual responsible for generating over 28 million fake plays on streaming platforms. The perpetrator earned approximately $65,000 through fraudulent activities, leading to the seizure of over $400,000 in assets.
Scrabble tiles spelling fraud
The operation, 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 led the December arrest.
Key findings of the investigation:
- Over 500 fake tracks uploaded to Spotify
- 36 tracks stolen from local composers through WhatsApp groups
- Creation of fraudulent artist profiles
- Use of generative AI to produce music tracks (not currently part of criminal charges)
Victoria Oakley, CEO of IFPI, stated: "Streaming manipulation of this nature is 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 biggest concerns.
The case highlights the growing concern over generative AI's role in streaming fraud, as bad actors increasingly use this technology to create large volumes of content for manipulation purposes. All fraudulent tracks and fake artist profiles have been removed from Spotify at the prosecutor's request.
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