Beach vendors in Rio de Janeiro are running an elaborate debit card scam that leaves tourists thousands of pounds out of pocket. Lisa Selby expected to pay 40 reais (£5.90) for two slices of barbecued cheese from a street vendor when she used her debit card at a Rio beach. The vendor instead manipulated the card reader to add two extra zeros, charging her 4,000 reais (£590) instead.
Selby's case is far from isolated. Other visitors report being charged £1,500 for a kebab and £3,000 for corn on the cob after similar card manipulation at beach food stalls. The scam operates by vendors surreptitiously altering amounts on portable card readers before transactions complete. Tourists often don't notice the overcharge until they check their bank statements days later.
The British Foreign Office has issued fresh warnings about this particular fraud as Brazil's summer season brings increased tourist traffic to Rio's famous beaches like Copacabana and Ipanema. The scheme targets visitors who assume beach vendors accept cards for convenience and who may not scrutinize small transaction amounts in unfamiliar currency.
Travellers to Rio should request itemized receipts before any card transaction and watch the card reader display closely as vendors process payments. Using cash in small denominations remains the safest option at beach food stalls. Visitors should also inform their banks they're traveling to Brazil and set spending alerts for unexpected charges.
For those already scammed, disputing charges through your bank offers the best chance of recovery, though the process takes weeks. Travel insurance with fraud protection provides additional safety nets. Rio's beach culture remains a major draw for international visitors, but basic precautions around payment methods can prevent expensive mistakes.