Holiday deception unveiled as tourist faces charges of fraud and false reporting

A British tourist, who initially reported falling victim to a ‘Goodnight, Cinderella’ scam in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is now under investigation for fraud and making a false report. The 48-year-old, holidaying with his wife, claimed to have lost £3,500 to the scam, which involves the use of date-rape drugs, rendering victims susceptible to theft or assault. However, local police uncovered evidence suggesting the man spent the amount on a night out with call girls.

The London transport worker, accompanied by his wife, alleged that he was drugged and robbed in Rio de Janeiro, leading to the initiation of an investigation. The victim reported the loss of £3,500 and claimed to have fallen prey to the notorious ‘Goodnight, Cinderella’ scam, which involves the use of drugs like Rohypnol or GHB to incapacitate victims.

Subsequent investigations by local Brazilian police revealed CCTV footage of the tourist in a nightclub, interacting with call girls, getting into a taxi, and attempting to use his blocked card to pay for a hotel room. The man’s extravagant spending on drinks and interactions with women contradicted his initial report. Authorities accuse him of making a false report and engaging in fraudulent activities.

The incident unfolded in late November when the man, in search of companionship, allegedly spent lavishly on a night out at a Copacabana nightclub with call girls. His wife, noticing the excessive spending, became concerned and canceled his card. The man left the club in the company of two women and attempted to use his blocked card at another hotel, capturing the attention of CCTV cameras.

Unable to proceed with the transaction, he dismissed the women and returned to his original hotel. There, he informed his wife about the alleged scam, leading to a subsequent report to Tourist Police. The man’s claim of being a victim of the ‘Goodnight, Cinderella’ scam, coupled with the reversal of his £3,500 nightclub bill, raised suspicions and triggered the fraud investigation.

This case underscores the complexity of fraudulent activities abroad and highlights the importance of thorough investigations to uncover the truth behind seemingly elaborate scams.