Authorities in Brazil are searching for 23-year-old influencer Luís Felipe de Oliveira, accused of impersonating a 19-year-old female cancer patient on a dating app to defraud an online partner of over £30,000.
The Alleged Deception
A court ordered Oliveira’s pre-trial detention on March 4, charging him with online fraud. Known online as Felipe Heystee with millions of followers, he allegedly maintained a two-year virtual relationship with a 46-year-old man, extracting 207,000 BRL (£29,642) between May 2022 and August 2024.
The victim believed he was supporting Luana, a blue-eyed, long-haired student sharing his interest in antiques. Funds went toward supposed medical tests, cancer treatment, overdue rent, and food deliveries.
In one exchange, the fake persona requested 730 BRL (£105) for “an ultrasound and a pap smear to check for cancer,” adding, “I just remembered I didn’t pay my health insurance this month.” They exchanged terms like “love” or “sweetie” but never met face-to-face or video-called.
Victim’s Suspicions Grow
The victim noted the persona’s claim of shyness and grew wary after a single phone call featuring a suspicious female voice. He also found it odd that most transfers linked to accounts in Oliveira’s name.
The ruse unraveled via a reverse-image search on a photo of “Luana” with her mother, revealing it belonged to a 16-year-old influencer. Her parents confirmed she had no connection to Oliveira and suggested he stole the image.
Legal Actions and Aftermath
A civil court in Cotia awarded the victim 10,000 BRL (£1,432) in damages, though payment remains pending. Over 200,000 BRL (£28,640) in Oliveira’s accounts is frozen by court order for potential restitution. Prosecutors suspect additional victims.
The man now vows to avoid future relationships, stating, “It was my last try. I don’t want to get involved with anyone else. I’ll just stay an uncle for life.”
