Sao paulo (Pakistan News) A 68-year-old retired woman in São Paulo, Brazil, has fallen victim to an elaborate online romance scam after a fraudster impersonating BTS singer Jimin swindled her out of approximately 300,000 Brazilian reais—equivalent to $52,000 to $56,000.
The incident was first reported by the Recife-based daily Diario de Pernambuco and subsequently published by the news website Imirante in early November. According to police records, the woman remained in online contact with the impostor for nearly four months, during which the scammer sent affectionate messages to build the illusion of an intimate romantic relationship.
The fraudster later promised to send the victim expensive gifts, only to claim shortly afterward that the packages had been seized by Brazilian customs authorities and required clearance fees. Believing the lie, the woman made multiple payments, eventually taking out a bank loan to cover the escalating demands.
Upon realizing she had been deceived, the victim blocked the account and reported the crime to authorities. São Paulo’s Civil Police have launched an investigation to trace and dismantle the network behind the fraud.
Published reports have withheld the victim’s identity, the specific social media platform used, and details of the promised gifts. Authorities emphasized there is no indication that the real BTS member Jimin or his agency had any connection to the fraudulent account.
This case highlights a growing wave of celebrity impersonation scams across Brazil, where scammers frequently exploit the country’s massive K-pop fanbase. In February 2026, South Korean and Brazilian police established their first formal cooperation framework to combat cross-border crimes. According to The Korea Herald, Brazilian officials have previously flagged numerous schemes involving fake Korean travel packages, counterfeit K-pop merchandise, and online romance fraud.
Celebrity impersonation in Brazil extends well beyond K-pop stars; previous victims have been targeted by scammers posing as South Korean actor Park Bo-gum, while a 69-year-old woman near Brasília was recently defrauded by a swindler pretending to be billionaire Elon Musk.
News of the scam surfaced shortly after BTS performed three major concerts in São Paulo on October 28, 30, and 31, though reports have not clarified whether the fraud began before or after the group’s tour.