Latest news with #Ipanema
The Sun
12-08-2025
- The Sun
Urgent Brit travel warning over ‘Goodnight Cinderella' scam after tourist was drugged & robbed by 3 women while on hols
AN URGENT travel warning has been issued to Brits after a number of tourists were drugged and robbed in Brazil in the so-called 'Goodnight Cinderella' scam. It comes after a Brit tourist collapsed unconscious on Rio de Janeiro's famous Ipanema beach last week - reportedly after taking just two sips of a drink laced with powerful drugs. 4 4 4 4 The young man, a university student celebrating his graduation with a pal, was later found in hospital with £16,000 missing from his account. Authorities say he fell victim to a well-known scheme in Brazil, where sex workers use drugs like Rohypnol and GHB to spike tourists' drinks before robbing them. The drugs - often referred to as "date rape" substances - cause blackouts, memory loss and paralysis - leaving victims vulnerable to theft and sometimes even sexual assault. These have come to be known as 'Goodnight Cinderella' schemes. In this case, the victim and his friend met three women during a night out at a samba dance in Rio's vibrant Lapa district. They continued the evening at a local bar, where one of the victims was handed a Caipirinha cocktail - Brazil's national drink. Minutes later, he blacked out, waking up in hospital with a large sum of money missing from his bank account. The two Brits, who have not been named, also claim their phones were stolen. Horrifying footage shows one of the tourists staggering along the beachfront before collapsing into the sand. The women are then seen running along the street and jumping into a taxi before quickly leaving the area. Moment 'Goodnight Cinderella' thief is arrested for luring & robbing tourists Police later identified the suspects as Amanda Couto Deloca, 23, Mayara Ketelyn Americo da Silva, 26, and Raiane Campos de Oliveira, 27, thanks to a video making the rounds online. Oliveira has reportedly been arrested 20 times for similar offences. The incident is part of a wider trend that has seen growing numbers of tourists fall prey to the 'Goodnight Cinderella' scheme. Earlier this month, Francini Demétrio Sitas, 23, was arrested for luring tourists before drugging and robbing a Frenchman of £13,000 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Sitas, who reportedly works as an escort, is known in the criminal underworld as the 'Queen of Goodnight Cinderella', according to Rio's Special Police Station for Tourist Support. In August last year, American businessman D'wayne Antonio Morris, 43, died in a similar suspected drugging and robbery case in Brazil, reported local outlet g1. Morris had arrived in Brazil just one day before he was found dead in his rented Copacabana apartment. Surveillance footage captured two women, including prime suspect Letícia Clara Bento da Silva, 23, leaving the scene after allegedly drugging and robbing him. Police believe the women used GHB - which is particularly dangerous in higher doses, as it can cause respiratory failure and death. Advice by the FCDO The FCDO currently "advises against all but essential travel to parts of Brazil". Under the subcategory 'scams', the Foreign Office writes: "Dating apps have been used by criminals to target foreign nationals in Brazil, leading to spiking of drinks, robbery and theft from bank accounts. Exercise caution when engaging with such apps, buy and keep hold of your own drinks, share your plans with friends or family, and be vigilant of your belongings including your mobile phone." Under the subcategory 'sexual assault and drink spiking', the advice reads: "Rape and other sexual offences against tourists are not common, but there have been attacks against both women and men. Some have involved date rape drugs. Buy your own drinks and keep them in sight. If you begin to feel strange, sick or drunk after only a couple of drinks, tell a trusted friend or security staff. They should take you to a safe place, such as your hotel room or a hospital. You can phone the local police, a hospital or the nearest British embassy or consulate for advice."
The Sun
12-08-2025
- The Sun
Brit tourist reveals horror after being drugged & robbed by 3 women on Ipanema beach in ‘Goodnight Cinderella' scam
A BRIT tourist who was drugged and robbed by three women in a "Goodnight Cinderella" scam has told how he "took one, two sips and then nothing." Horrifying footage showed the holidaymaker collapsing unconscious on Rio de Janeiro's popular Ipanema beach after falling victim to the trick alongside his pal. 10 10 10 Following his horror experience, the first-time visitor to Brazil, a 21-year-old engineering student, said: 'Maybe I'll come back one day but for now I think it's enough of this country.' The Brit said when recalling the terrifying ordeal: "I took two sips and I don't remember anything else." He added: "I tried to fight the drug. By the time I got to the beach I was completely out of it." He also explained that cops were still probing the ruse which has become increasingly common in Brazil among sex workers and escorts. Criminals posing as friendly locals often use Rohypnol, GHB - or any date rape drug - to drug tourists and rob them. Three suspects have been arrested and identified as Amanda Couto Deloca, 23, Mayara Ketelyn Americo da Silva, 26, and Raiane Campos de Oliveira, 27. The victim spoke to local media alongside a second British student who was also targeted. The other Brit revealed that just before losing consciousness he threw his phone into the sand when he sussed something was wrong to avoid the "Goodnight Cinderella" scam. He told Brazilian outlet G1: 'I must have realised what was going on and threw my phone.' The other victim who was filmed as he collapsed in the sand, said they had spent "a beautiful 10 days" in the country before the ordeal. The alleged crime occurred during the Brit pair's midweek night out last week when they were approached by the female thieves at a bar in the Rio neighbourhood of Lapa. Inside romance scam target lonely singles on dating apps but what they don't know is if we die They had been in Brazil for 10 days when they were targeted and had reportedly travelled to the South American country to celebrate the graduation of one of the university students. The Brit victims were young university students and met three women at a Samba dance. After heading to a local bar to carry on the evening, one of the victim's said he was handed a Caipirinha cocktail before losing all consciousness. When he woke up in hospital, he said £16,000 had been stolen from his account. Horrifying footage showed one of the tourists staggering along the beachfront before collapsing into the sand. The women are then seen running along the street and jumping into a taxi before quickly leaving the area. The Brit pair also thanked a local teenage delivery man called an ambulance and helped police catch the alleged culprits. The victim said: "I would like to thank him, whoever he is. "He filmed, called an ambulance, and helped the police track down the suspects. Thank you to him, whoever he is." 10 10 The Good Samaritan also filmed the shocking footage of the 21-year-old Brit collapsing unconscious on the sand. He told local media: 'He was unresponsive. He was drooling. 'His eye was open. His face was in the sand. "I called the emergency services and they confirmed police and an ambulance were on their way.' The video he filmed also showed the three suspects who were later arrested fleeing the scene. According to investigators, the women are sex workers who target tourists in the city. Campos de Oliveira, was even previously jailed for six months for the same type of offence - and she been arrested 20 times before. Officers also identified the taxi driver who drove the women away after committing the offence, though he is not believed to have been involved. 10 The Special Tourism Support Unit have launched an investigation into the case and have urged visitors to be extra careful when socialising with strangers. Police chief Patricia Alemany said the toxicology tests to find out exactly what drug had been used to spike the British men's drinks were still being done. Cops also requested CCTV images from the area to try to identify possible accomplices. This comes as the scam has become worryingly widespread in the area with handfuls of tourists suffering its consequences. Criminal law professor Ronny Nunes, outlined the difficulties of convicting "Goodnight Cinderella" thieves. She said: 'Generally the victims of this type of crime are foreign tourists. 'This person files a report at the police station, and the investigation begins. "When it is necessary to consult this person, to ask them to identify someone, or even when proceedings have already been initiated, to ask them to go to court, before the judge and prosecutor, to confirm their statement, they are sometimes not found. "When the statement, that first one at the police station, is not ratified in court, conviction becomes very difficult, and acquittal is imposed.' Earlier this month, an escort was arrested for luring flirtatious tourists before drugging and robbing them of £13,000. Francini Demétrio Sitas, 23, was suspected of drugging, robbing and beating a Frenchman in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The Sun
11-08-2025
- The Sun
Brit tourist collapses on beach after being drugged & robbed by 3 women in ‘Goodnight, Cinderalla' scam
A BRIT tourist was found collapsed in the sand after being drugged and robbed by three women. He was discovered unconscious on Rio De Janeiro's popular Ipanema beach after reportedly falling victim to the horrifying "Goodnight Cinderalla" scam. 4 4 4 The ruse has become increasingly common in Brazil among sex workers and escorts who use Rohypnol, GHB - or any date rape drug - to drug tourists and rob them. In this instance, the victim, a young university student, was holidaying with a pal from school when they met three women at a Samba dance. After heading to a local bar to carry on the evening, one of the victim's said he was handed a Caipirinha cocktail before losing all consciousness. When he woke up in hospital, he said £16,000 had been stolen from his account. The two Brits, who have not been named, also claim their phones were taken too. Police later identified the suspects as Amanda Couto Deloca, 23, Mayara Ketelyn Americo da Silva, 26, and Raiane Campos de Oliveira, 27, thanks to a video making the rounds online. Horrifying footage shows the victim staggering along the beachfront before collapsing into the sand. The women are then seen running along the street and jumping into a taxi before quickly leaving the area. According to investigators, the women are sex workers who target tourists in the city. Campos de Oliveira, was even previously jailed for six months for the same type of offence. Inside America's Tranq Dope crisis as Mexican cartels cut production of key ingredients Officers also identified the taxi driver who drove the women away after committing the offence, though he is not believed to have been involved. The Special Tourism Support Unit have launched an investigation into the case and have urged visitors to be extra careful when socialising with strangers. This comes as the scam has become worryingly widespread in the area with handfuls of tourists suffering its consequences. Earlier this month, an escort was arrested for luring flirtatious tourists before drugging and robbing them of £13,000. How 'Devil's Breath' zombie drug used to spike victims is flooding hols hotspots – as Brit target gives chilling warning YOU'RE enjoying a night out - partying with friends - when suddenly you begin to feel woozy, you feel your heartbeat increase, you start to see hallucinations and you find you can't even speak. Then you black out, waking up hours or even days later with no memory of what has just happened - you may have been spiked with a terrifying drug known as the "Devil's Breath". Tourists and revellers around the globe fear they are being targeted with the mysterious drug - which is said to turn people into "zombies". It has been linked to tens of thousands of crimes in South America - and is even behind several deaths. It's also been reported in European holiday hotspots, including in the UK. Officially called scopolamine, the " Devil's Breath" is derived from the toxic Borrachero tree from South America and it has become a weapon of choice for criminals. Once tested by the CIA as a truth serum, the drug renders its victims powerless, compliant, and blank — leaving them unable to resist, and often unable to recall anything afterwards. A leading UK addiction specialist told The Sun that the misuse of Devil's Breath could pose one of the most dangerous threats to the public - with it being used by criminals in robberies, assaults and sexual attacks. And a top Spanish anti-drug cop has issued a warning to tourists - telling them be on the lookout for Devil's Breath in party hotspots. Francini Demétrio Sitas, 23, was suspected of drugging, robbing and beating a Frenchman in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He said they talked and drank before going to Copacabana, where they continued to drink, before heading back to the city centre where he fell victim to their scam. Meanwhile, last year two women targeted Chilean holidaymakers Ronald Rafael Tejeda Sobarzo and Andrés Ignacio Orellana Ruiz. The pair slipped a date-rape drug into the men's beers before stealing the men's mobile phones. Tragically, they then pushed the drugged tourists off a 10ft tall cliff into an abyss.
Daily Mail
11-08-2025
- Daily Mail
Shocking moment British tourist collapses on Rio de Janeiro beach after being DRUGGED by women who gave him a laced cocktail then stole £16,000 from his bank accounts
This is the moment a British tourist collapses unconscious on the sands of a beach in Brazil after being drugged and robbed of £16,000 by three women. The incident happened on Rio de Janeiro's popular Ipanema beach in the early hours of August 8. Footage shows the victim, visibly disoriented, staggering along the beachfront before collapsing face-first into the sand. Moments earlier, three women, believed to be the suspects, are seen running along the street and jumping into a taxi before quickly leaving the area. The victim, reportedly a young university student, was holidaying with a British pal from school when they met the women at a samba dance and later continued drinking at a local bar. One of them said the women gave him a caipirinha cocktail and that after drinking it he lost consciousness. By the time he woke up in the emergency room, more than £16,000 had been taken from his bank accounts. The two Brits, who have not been named, also said their iPhones were stolen by the women. Police later identified the suspects as Amanda Couto Deloca, 23, Mayara Ketelyn Americo da Silva, 26, and Raiane Campos de Oliveira, 27. According to investigators, the women are sex workers who target tourists in the city. One of them, Campos de Oliveira, was previously jailed for six months for the same type of offence but is now suspected of returning to the scheme. The suspects were recognised by the victims in videos posted on social media, where they appear alongside the men before the alleged robbery. Officers have also located the taxi driver who drove the women away from the scene. He is not suspected of involvement. The case is being investigated by the Special Tourism Support Unit, which has urged visitors to be cautious when socialising with strangers and to avoid sharing drinks.
NDTV
10-08-2025
- NDTV
Irish Man Surprised To See Porsche Unattended With Doors Wide Open In China, Video Viral
An Irish YouTuber was stunned after finding a Porsche left unattended with its door open on a busy road in China. The content creator named Travis Leon Price praised the level of security and compared it with the situation in the United States and Europe. He showed a silver-coloured Porsche as he recorded the video while walking past it. Watch the video here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Travis Leon Price (@travisleon1) "Only in China could you possibly leave your Porsche unattended with the door wide open," he said in the video. "That is the level of safety here. We all know that you could not do that in America or Europe, I don't think," he added. The users have flooded the comment section discussing safety and security in different nations. "Can't even walk down street with your phone out, with out it been snatched in London," one user wrote. "I live in England ! You can't leave not even your Ipanema sandals unattended here... ! The struggle is real!" another said. "Even if somebody steals it, you can get it back within the day. All it takes is to call the police, check the video surveillance, then it's found. Committing crime and run away from it it's almost impossible in China," a third user wrote.
