Travellers visiting Rio de Janeiro face a growing threat from beach vendors operating payment card scams that inflate charges by thousands of pounds. One visitor, Lisa Selby, paid 4,000 reais (£590) for two slices of barbecued cheese after a vendor manipulated a card reader by adding extra zeros to the transaction amount. She expected to spend just 40 reais (£5.90).
The scams extend beyond cheese. Reports document a traveller charged £1,500 for a kebab and another billed £3,000 for corn on the cob at beachside food stalls across Rio's popular coastal areas.
The scheme typically operates like this. Vendors position portable card readers where tourists cannot see the display clearly. They input inflated amounts, sometimes multiplying the legitimate price by one hundred or more. Once the transaction processes, reversing the charge becomes difficult for visitors unfamiliar with Brazilian banking procedures.
Rio's beaches, particularly Copacabana and Ipanema, attract millions of international visitors annually. These areas have become hotspots for the scam because tourists often lack familiarity with local currency values and may not scrutinise small food purchases carefully. By the time victims discover the fraud, they have already left the country or lack access to dispute the charge effectively.
British travellers should adopt specific protective measures. Request itemised receipts in writing before paying. Insist on viewing the card reader screen during transactions. Use cash when possible, particularly for small purchases under 100 reais. Contact your bank immediately if you spot unauthorized charges, as many offer fraud protection on international transactions.
Travel insurance policies sometimes cover card fraud, though coverage varies. Check your policy details before departure. The UK Foreign Office advises exercising caution when using payment cards at beach vendors and informal food stalls throughout Brazil.
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