Brazilian social media influencer Monniky Fraga was arrested on 25/3 for allegedly faking her own kidnapping in 2025 to gain more followers. The elaborate scheme, which her husband was unaware of, involved three armed men and a fabricated ransom demand.

The incident, which took place on 21/4/2025, saw Monniky Fraga, a model and content creator, and her husband, Lucas, reportedly accosted by three armed men while returning home in Igarassu, northern Brazil. Monniky initially thought it was a carjacking. "Three men had weapons, and at first, I thought they were going to take my car. When they ordered us out of the car and into another, I realized the situation was much more serious," she recounted.

Monniky Fraga. Photo: NY Post

Through a series of social media posts at the time, Monniky claimed she and Lucas were taken to a riverside forest and their family was forced to pay a ransom. She alleged the armed men repeatedly threatened to shoot them if they did not comply. The influencer expressed fear that she would never see her family again. "I only thought of my children and told myself I would give them everything they wanted. When I leave here, I will forget everything," Monniky recalled, adding that her pleas prevented any harm.

Monniky and Lucas were eventually released in a rural area after the family reportedly paid the demanded ransom. Following their release, Lucas reported the incident to the police.

The police investigation, conducted by the Special Operations Group (GOE), quickly uncovered inconsistencies. Phone records revealed that Monniky had been in contact with one of the alleged kidnappers both before and after the staged event. "This extortion by kidnapping was nothing more than a conspiracy between the victim and one of the perpetrators," a police officer stated, based on evidence analysis.

The investigation concluded that Monniky's husband was an innocent victim, unaware of the deception. He not only believed his and his wife's lives were in danger but was also beaten by the armed men during the staged kidnapping.

Monniky was arrested on 25/3, nearly one year after the fabricated incident, facing charges of extortion, procedural fraud, and making false statements to the police. She was later released on bail because she is raising a young child. Of her three alleged accomplices, one is in custody, another died last year, and the third remains at large.