Police in Brazil have arrested a muscular scam artist for conning stunning models out of thousands of pounds.
Matheus Rodrigues Azin, 28, was arrested in a five-star hotel in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, on Monday, 5th December.
Following his arrest, he reportedly tried to bribe Civil Police officers not to take him to the police station, allegedly offering them BRL 10,000 (GBP 1,580) and watches.
Azin is accused of fraud and bribery to the tune of around BRL 22,000 (GBP 3,470), according to reports.
His arrest came after model Eduarda Fagundes, who has 43,300 followers on Instagram, reported him to police.
According to police, he had tricked the 23-year-old into making several money transfers to a third-party account.
The model told police that she had arrived in Rio de Janeiro on 25th November and had met Azin through a mutual friend.
After spending the night with him, he had asked her to make a money transfer worth BRL 2,500 (GBP 400) via Pix, a payment method developed by the Central Bank of Brazil, ostensibly to buy tickets to a party.
He had later claimed his account was blocked and asked her for a further BRL 4,000 (GBP 630).
Later, while purchasing drinks at the bar of the luxury hotel they were in, he had apparently seen her entering her PIN on the card machine.
That same night, he had made payments with her card to the tune of BRL 9,700 (GBP 1,530) in at least three establishments.
The victim also told police that after having breakfast at the hotel on 1st December, she was told that Azin had left but still owed BRL 1,000 (GBP 160), which she had to pay.
Three days later, she discovered via social media that another women had gone through the same experience with Azin as she had.
She told her how he had promised to return the amount he owed her but failed to do so.
Eduarda told local media: “He said he loved me and that we’d be together. In addition to being handsome and appearing to have a lot of money, he’s extremely persuasive, seems to choose his victim, and messes with their mind.
“I get the impression he already knows who he’s going to get something out of and approaches them. He’s manipulative and professional.
“Today I feel ridiculous and pathetic for having believed it, but I’m relieved to know he’s in jail and will answer for what he did. I don’t want any other woman to go through the shame I went through.”
Model and businesswoman Brenda Gondacki, who has 67,500 followers on Instagram, has since identified herself as one of Azin’s victims.
The 23-year-old told local media: “He likes to enjoy the good life at the expense of others and he brainwashed me.”
Police chief Felipe Santoro told local media: “He’s a repeat offender who takes advantage of his good looks to attract women and steal money and bank details from them.
“This is how he maintains a life of luxury that includes high-end products and services.”
Azin flaunted his life of luxury on social media, posting snaps from around Brazil and even from destinations as far afield as Mexico and the Maldives.
He is reportedly under investigation for fraud in at least five different cases by Civil Police in Sao Paulo state.
