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Scam on the Beach in Rio: Street Vendor Charges R$ 700 for Açaí from Argentine Tourists After Attempting Transaction of R$ 7,000 via Pix.
A scam on the beach involving Argentine tourists ended with the arrest of a street vendor at Arpoador Beach, in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro, last Sunday (1st). The man tried to charge R$ 7,000 for two pots of açaí after entering the amount in the victims’ Pix.
When the transaction was declined, he changed the amount and managed to charge R$ 700, ten times the agreed price. After realizing the scam, the Argentine tourists called the Municipal Guard, which located the suspect and made the arrest.
The case drew attention on social media and raised the alarm again about scams against tourists on Brazilian beaches, especially involving digital payments.
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How the Açaí Scam on the Beach Happened
The episode occurred when two Argentinians visiting Rio de Janeiro decided to buy açaí from a street vendor who was circulating the beach.
During the negotiation, the vendor informed that two pots of açaí would cost R$ 70. The tourists accepted the offer and agreed to pay via Pix.
According to the Municipal Guard, the vendor asked for one of the victim’s cell phones to enter the transaction details. At that moment, he attempted to carry out the scam.
First, he typed R$ 7,000 in the banking app. As the transaction was not authorized, the vendor quickly changed the amount to R$ 700, managing to complete the payment.
Only after receiving the cell phone back did the Argentinians realize that they had fallen victim to an açaí scam on the beach.
Argentinians Seek Help After Realizing Scam
As soon as they identified the improper charge, the tourists sought out agents of the Municipal Guard who were patrolling the area.
The agents began searching along the shore to locate the street vendor.
Upon noticing the guard’s presence, the suspect attempted to flee by running along the beach. However, he was caught after an agent used a taser to subdue him.
The occurrence was forwarded to the Special Delegate for Tourism Support (Deat), where the vendor was arrested in the act.
Crime of Fraud and Electronic Fraud
According to the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro (PCRJ), the case was initially registered as fraud, a crime provided for in Article 171 of the Brazilian Penal Code.
This type of crime occurs when a person obtains an unlawful advantage causing financial harm to another.
In the specific case of the scam against the Argentinians, it may also be classified as electronic fraud, as the transaction was carried out via Pix.
This type of crime is provided for in Article 171, § 2º-A of the Penal Code, which addresses scams carried out through digital means.
The penalty may reach 4 to 8 years of imprisonment, in addition to a fine.
Attempted Larger Scam Did Not Work
Even though the first amount typed — R$ 7,000 — was not authorized by the banking system, the Justice considers that there was an attempted fraud.
Moreover, as the vendor was able to charge R$ 700, the crime was effectively consummated.
In practice, the seller charged ten times more than the agreed-upon amount, causing direct harm to the victims.
Resistance to Arrest Can Also Lead to Punishment
Another point considered by the authorities was the suspect’s attempt to flee.
When he realized he would be approached, the vendor ran down the beach trying to escape the police intervention.
According to Article 329 of the Penal Code, resisting arrest in the act through violence or threat also constitutes a crime.
The penalty can vary from two months to two years of detention.
Scam on the Beach Is Not an Isolated Case
The Municipal Guard reported that scams against tourists have been occurring frequently in the city, particularly in places with high visitor traffic.
According to the force, similar situations have been recently recorded.
In February, another GTM team registered a similar occurrence. A vendor was detained for charging R$ 2,400 for two cans of beer from two Danish tourists during a game at Maracanã. The action took place on the 12th, reported the Municipal Guard of Rio.
Cases like this reinforce the warning for tourists to avoid handing their cell phones to strangers during payments via Pix, especially in crowded environments like beaches.
U.S. Investigation Raises Suspicions of Chinese Base in Brazil
While the case of the açaí scam involving Argentinians reverberates in the country, another international issue has also gained prominence.
A report from the U.S. Congress highlights suspicions that Brazil may be harboring a network of space installations linked to China’s military infrastructure.
The investigation was conducted by the Selective Committee on China, which claims there is scientific cooperation with potential military applications.
Installations in Salvador and Paraíba Come Under Scrutiny
According to the report, one of the structures cited is the Tucano Ground Station, located in Salvador.
Although the project is presented as a center for analyzing data from civilian satellites, American investigators claim that the technology has “dual use.”
This means that equipment used for space observation could also monitor satellites and track military targets.
Another point mentioned in the report is in Serra do Urubu, in Paraíba, where a radio astronomy laboratory was established in 2025 in partnership with Brazilian universities.
U.S. Congressman Calls for Action Against Chinese Influence
Republican Congressman John Moolenaar stated that the United States and its allies need to respond to the advance of Chinese infrastructure in the region.
According to the report, some of these installations would be “deeply integrated into China’s defense system,” which could turn academic research into strategic surveillance tools.
So far, neither the Brazilian government nor the Chinese government has officially commented on the accusations.
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Uma pessoa reagiu a isso.