Romanian tourist pays R$10,300 for a cigarette in a scam on the Ipanema waterfront; 4 prisoners

Polícia Civil of Rio of

The operation was carried out by agents from Delegacia Especial from Apoio to Turismo (Deat) after monitoring the region. Criminals approached foreigners, offered low-value products and, at the time of payment, charged much higher than agreed.

A Romanian tourist was one of the victims. Ele foi empurrado, teve o celular roubado e viu uma transação de R$ 10,3 mil ser debitada no cartão por apenas um cigarro comum.

Group operation mode

The suspects preferentially chose foreigners who seemed disoriented or had difficulty speaking the language. Primeiro offered single or electronic cigarettes for apparently low prices.

They would then surround the victim to make it difficult to react and insert exorbitant amounts into the machine, often without the tourist noticing the difference on the display.

• Approach occurs at busy points along the coast
• Products offered cost between R$10 and R$50
• Amounts charged reach R$10,000 or more per item
• Use of physical force and cell phone theft are common to prevent immediate reporting

Other recorded attempts

On the same day of the arrest, the group tried to attack two Italian tourists. The criminals surrounded the victims and tried to make two purchases of R$10,000 each, relating to the alleged sale of electronic cigarettes.

The victims managed to prevent the transactions from being completed and called military police who were patrolling the area. Deat agents were already monitoring the group and carried out an immediate approach.

The four suspects were taken to the police station and charged in the act.

Criminal history of prisoners

All detainees have police records. The leader of the scheme has 11 criminal records, including criminal association, robbery, theft and embezzlement.

The other three members are also responsible for similar crimes. Entre the notes also include active corruption, reception and drug trafficking.

The gang was charged with aggravated robbery, attempted embezzlement, criminal association and smuggling, as part of the electronic cigarettes were of foreign origin without an invoice.

Action of Delegacia from Apoio to Turismo

Deat intensified patrolling along the coast of Ipanema and Copacabana after receiving several complaints from tourists in recent months. Agentes in civilian clothes accompanied the suspicious approaches.

The police station advises visitors to avoid purchasing from unknown street vendors and to always check the value displayed on the machine before entering the password.

Similar cases had already been registered in 2024, but the arrest of this gang is considered the largest operation against this type of crime in the summer season.

Products most used in scams

Criminals mainly use common and electronic cigarettes (vapes) as bait. Items are offered at apparently promotional prices to attract tourists.

Other products already identified in previous incidents include:

• Coconut Water
• Sarongs and bikinis
• Counterfeit sunglasses
• Bracelets and necklaces

The ease of approaching the sand and the natural crowding of bathers make it difficult to quickly notice the blow.

Security recommendations

Authorities reinforce that tourists should pay extra attention in busy areas. Pagamentos in cash or through known applications reduce the risk of fraud with tampered machines.

Deat maintains a specific reporting channel for foreign tourists, with service in English and Spanish. The service operates 24 hours a day via phone and WhatsApp.

The four prisoners remain detained and available to Justiça for a custody hearing.