• Wave of tourist scams hits Rio’s beaches
• Electronic payment manipulation inflates prices dramatically

Police in Rio de Janeiro have arrested a man accused of defrauding a British tourist using a card payment terminal, after the victim was charged around 10,000 reais (about $1,950) for a kebab worth just 10 reais (about $2), in what authorities described as part of a wider pattern of beachside scams.

The incident took place on Copacabana beach, where the suspect and an alleged accomplice are believed to have tampered with the payment device to massively inflate the bill without the victim noticing. The tourist only realised the discrepancy after the transaction was completed.

The case adds to a growing series of frauds targeting foreign visitors on Rio’s busiest beaches. In recent months, Argentine tourists were reportedly charged 7,000 reais (about $1,400) for two cups of açaí, while a Colombian visitor was made to pay 2,500 reais (about $500) for a caipirinha.

In an earlier incident that drew widespread attention, an Argentine woman was charged 20,000 reais (about $4,000) for a buttered corn on the cob worth just 20 reais (about $4).

The victim in the latest case reportedly said he did not understand Portuguese, which contributed to him falling for the scam. Rio’s tourist police said their teams are working to track down those responsible, blaming weak oversight for enabling such practices in busy beach areas.

Despite these incidents, authorities stress that most visits to Rio de Janeiro remain trouble-free, noting that tourist numbers have been rising in recent years, supported by large beach events and concerts.