A British tourist suffered an attempted scam on Copacabana, on Rio of Janeiro. The street vendor advertised the barbecue for R$100, but the card machine registered a charge of R$10,000. Agentes from Delegacia Especial from Apoio to Turismo arrested the suspect on Tuesday afternoon.
The case occurred near station 5 on the beach. According to the police, the man identified as Caio Alencar is part of a scheme that targets foreigners at Copacabana and Ipanema. The victim had his card swiped through a tampered machine after accepting the initial offer.
Details of the street vendor’s arrest
Agents from Deat acted quickly after registering the incident. The suspect was detained in the act during the attempted collection. Investigadores point out that the scam involves manipulating the machine to change the value without the knowledge of the person paying.
The British tourist reported the incident to the police. The street vendor offered the simple product, but the equipment registered a much higher amount. The action is part of recurring fraud against visitors to Zona Sul and Rio.
- The street vendor advertised the barbecue for R$100
- The card machine charged R$10,000
- The arrest took place on Tuesday afternoon
- The scheme mainly operates on Copacabana and Ipanema
- Delegacia Especial from Apoio to Turismo led the action
Comparison with the most expensive barbecue in the world
In the tourist’s home country, a restaurant in Londres once offered a premium version of the Turkish delicacy. The item, a kafta prepared with selected ingredients, cost 925 pounds, equivalent to around R$6,250 at the time. The dish was discontinued.
Chef Onder Sahan created the recipe at Hazev, located at Canary Wharf. Entre the components were Wagyu Japanese, milk-fed lamb, French morel mushrooms, and vinegar aged for 25 years. The high value reflected the quality of the items used in the preparation.
The Turkish restaurant operated in the financial district of the British capital. Kafta represented a luxury option on the menu, although it was not a common daily item. The establishment no longer offers the product at this price.
How scams against tourists work on Rio
The police are investigating the scheme that Caio Alencar was part of. Ambulantes approach foreign visitors with offers of cheap products on the waterfront. Após acceptance, the card machine is used to register amounts well above the agreed amount.
Similar cases have already been registered in Copacabana and Ipanema. The authorities reinforce the guidance for tourists to carefully check the amounts before swiping the card. Deat works specifically to support visitors who face this type of problem.
The scam exploits initial confidence in the advertised price. The victim realizes the real value only after the transaction is completed. Police are working to identify others involved in the organization.
Ingredients that justified the high price in Londres
The London version used high-end meats and condiments. Japanese Wagyu is known for its intense marbling and distinctive flavor. The lamb received special milk feeding to improve the texture.
Morel mushrooms, imported from França, added a unique aroma. The 25-year-old vinegar was used at the finish to balance the flavors. The chef selected each item with criteria to compose the dish.
This combination increased the final cost of kafta. The restaurant presented the item as an exclusive experience, different from the common barbecue sold on the streets. The product is no longer part of the current menu.
Recommended safety measures for tourists
Visitors must ask for proof of value before making any card payments. Conferir The machine’s display when typing helps avoid surprises. If in doubt, contact a police unit immediately.
Deat advises foreigners to keep receipts and record incidents in detail. The fraud scheme using tampered machines has already led to other arrests in the region. The police continue investigations to dismantle the group.
British tourists and those of other nationalities are frequent targets on Rio’s waterfront. Deat’s quick action in this case prevented the scam from being successfully completed.