Resumo:
This dissertation examines the migration of criminal activity to fraud (estelionato) in the municipality of Itajubá, located in southern Minas Gerais, which has shifted from a local criminal statistics panorama. Grounded in Actor-Network Theory (ANT), the research quantitatively analyzed 2,321 police reports filed between 2018 and 2022, while also providing qualitative context. The study explores the relationships between neighborhood, age, gender, smartphone use, Pix, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, emergency aid, and the combination of actants that attract this new criminal profile in the area, without neglecting the impact of COVID-19, which expanded the virtual environment due to social isolation needs. In addition to utilizing qualitative, quantitative, and exploratory methodologies, the research included observation of the activities of the Civil Police during criminal investigations. This extensive empirical material enabled a detailed analysis of the phenomenon of criminal migration and the role of involved actants (both human and non-human), aiming to contribute to local public policies and support future projects in both preventing and combating fraud, considering the intersection of public safety, development, and involved technologies.
