Police in Brazil examining suspected fraud linked to 'Goodnight, Cinderella' incident, following reports of British vacationers being drugged and robbed
In a troubling incident, two British tourists have claimed they lost a substantial sum of $21,000 after being drugged and robbed by three women near Rio de Janeiro's famous Ipanema beach. The incident, identified as a "Goodnight, Cinderella" scam, is part of a growing trend of such crimes targeting foreign tourists in Brazil.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday. The tourists, who had met the three women at a bar, reportedly drank spiked cocktails, leading to one of them losing consciousness. The women then allegedly stole two cell phones from the tourists and carried out a bank transfer of approximately $21,000.
The Special Tourism Support Unit is currently analysing security footage and interviewing witnesses, while the Civil Police of the State of Rio de Janeiro is investigating the incident. This appears to be the latest in a string of similar incidents in Brazil, where criminals, often women, seduce tourists, drug their drinks, and then rob them of valuables and money, sometimes even accessing their bank accounts digitally.
The UK Foreign Office has issued a warning to its citizens about the use of dating apps in Brazil by criminals. The warning includes information about spiked drinks, robbery, and theft from bank accounts. The Office has urged its citizens to exercise caution and be vigilant of their drinks and belongings.
To avoid falling victim to such scams, tourists are advised to take several precautions. These include never leaving drinks unattended or accepting drinks from strangers, avoiding consuming drinks or food from people they just met in unfamiliar or high-risk environments, being cautious using dating apps or meeting strangers, especially in nightlife settings, keeping valuables secured and monitoring bank accounts closely during travel, travelling with trusted companions, and maintaining awareness of their surroundings, especially in nightlife or beach areas.
If feeling unwell or suspecting drugging, immediate medical help should be sought, and local authorities notified. Tourists are also encouraged to follow travel advisories from their respective governments.
While Brazil remains a popular tourist destination, foreign visitors should remain vigilant about drink spiking and related robbery scams like "Goodnight, Cinderella" to avoid falling victim.
[1] CNN, Alessandra Castelli, "British tourists robbed in 'Goodnight, Cinderella' scam in Rio de Janeiro", 2022. [3] The Guardian, "British tourists robbed in 'Goodnight, Cinderella' scam in Rio de Janeiro", 2022.
The "Goodnight, Cinderella" scam, a growing trend of criminal activities in Brazil, was evidenced in a troubling incident at Rio de Janeiro's Ipanema beach, where two British tourists lost $21,000 after being drugged and robbed by three women. [1]
Incidents like these highlight the need for travelers to exercise precautions while visiting the world, as criminals in the Americas, particularly in Brazil, have been known to use digital means to steal from foreign tourists. [3]
Awareness of general-news, crime-and-justice issues such as this one can help tourists adopt a lifestyle that prioritizes safety, ensuring an enjoyable travel experience and reducing the risk of such incidents. [2]
