A scammer has been arrested in Rio de Janeiro for selling a kebab to a British tourist for nearly £1,500, the latest in a series of beachside swindles. The man was detained on Copacabana beach on Tuesday after allegedly manipulating a payment terminal to overcharge the victim 1,000-fold. The tourist paid 10,000 reais (£1,480) instead of 10 reais (£1.50).
The crime follows other high-profile cons in Rio. In recent months, two Argentinian tourists were charged 7,000 reais (£1,000) for two cups of açaí, a Colombian visitor paid 2,500 reais (£400) for a caipirinha, and an Argentinian woman was charged 20,000 reais (£3,000) for a corn on the cob that should have cost 20 reais (£3).
Patricia Alemany, head of Rio's tourist police, said her team had been working to capture those behind the recent crimes on Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. She blamed a lack of government oversight for creating a 'disorderly' atmosphere that helps scammers.
Despite the incidents, most visits to Rio are trouble-free, and Brazil received a record 9 million visitors last year, up from 6.7 million in 2024. Rio's appeal has been boosted by major beach concerts, including a Lady Gaga show that drew over 2 million fans. Colombian singer Shakira is due to perform next month.
