Rio de Janeiro is a great tourist spot and should have a place on your travel bucket list. Carnival, the beaches, and, above all, the women are all great reasons to visit.
However, don’t forget, you’re a foreigner. Chances are, you don’t know how things work or who’s genuinely helpful in the city. As with other travel spots, there are a bunch of locals that prey on foreigners to make a profit.
These can range from simple swindling to life-threatening crimes. Read on to see what you can expect and how to avoid them.
Shoe Shiners
This is colloquially known as the goop scam. The way it works is someone will squirt some kind of goop, like mustard, on to your shoes without you noticing. Another person will come along offering to clean your shoes. However, they’ll charge you an inflated price.
You should be wary of these throughout the city, though especially at the beaches. It’s hard to avoid this given the raft of things that grab your attention in Rio. If you do fall victim to the goop, then either negotiate with the shoe shiner or clean your shoes yourself later.
Taxis
Taxi drivers have more than one scam ready for you. First, they won’t use their meter in the hopes that you don’t notice. Once the ride ends, they’ll charge you an arbitrarily inflated fare. Second, they might rig their meters, so that you’ll be paying more than you should. Third, they may needlessly take longer routes to your destination. Lastly, if you’re a bit too inebriated after a party, taxi drivers may actually take you to a secluded spot and rob you. To avoid this, make liberal use of a GPS and take pictures of the taxi’s license plates. If possible, try using public transport.
Product Swaps
If you decide to buy something and your vendor takes the item out of your sight, they may be about to scam you. Generally, the vendor will return with your item wrapped up. Fortunately, there’s a very easy way to avoid this scam. Just unwrap the item, and you’ll probably be able to tell if it’s something of less quality. As a precaution, make sure you check the quality of the original item before choosing it.
Drug Deals
These scams can be fatal if not handled properly. You’re not at fault for wanting to wake and bake (who wouldn’t want to on vacation?). However, you should be careful about how you get your drugs. If someone on the street starts offering you drugs, temper your impulses and say no. Those people are likely setting you up for a robbery in a secluded spot, which can end in death.
With these in mind, you can fully enjoy everything Rio has to offer, and it has a lot to offer. If you’re looking for something to do, I’d recommend the women (everything you’ve heard about Brazilian women is true), but that’s just me. There’s plenty more on offer here.
Check out Julian Jones Travel for more information on Rio de Janeiro’s tourist attraction. My travel blog has plenty of info on the best things to do in Rio de Janeiro Brazil, so give it a read.
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