Latest news with #SpecialTourismSupportUnit
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
'Goodnight, Cinderella scam': 2 British tourists robbed of $21000; what is Brazil's latest fraud targeting foreigners?
Representative Image (AI) Police in Rio de Janeiro are investigating a case where two British tourists claim they were drugged and robbed of $21,000 by three women near a beach. This incident is part of a series of crimes known in Brazil as 'Goodnight, Cinderella' scams. In these cases, criminals reportedly seduce foreigners, spike their drinks and steal their belongings, as reported by CNN. One tourist told police he drank a spiked cocktail in the early hours of Thursday after he and his friend met three women at a bar. He lost consciousness while heading to the famous Ipanema beach with the women, according to police statements. The three women were later seen stopping a taxi and leaving the area. After a witness called for help, the British tourists were taken to a hospital and received medical treatment. They reported that the women stole two cell phones and made a bank transfer of about $21,000. The Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro said they are trying to find the suspects. The Special Tourism Support Unit is reviewing security footage and interviewing witnesses. The UK Foreign Office has warned its citizens that criminals in Brazil have used dating apps to target foreigners, leading to spiking of drinks, robbery and theft from bank accounts. The office has urged travelers to be cautious and watch their drinks and belongings carefully.
Metro
3 days ago
- Metro
British tourist collapsed on a beach after being 'spiked and robbed' on holiday
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A young British tourist is lucky to be alive after he was drugged and robbed by three women in a horrific 'good night, Cindarella' scam. The phrase is Brazilian slang for using drugs to incapacitate someone and then robbing or assaulting them, and in this instance, it caused the young man to drop unconscious on the sands of Ipanema beach in Rio de Janeiro. In the early hours of August 8, the 21-year-old victim, clearly disoriented, staggered along the beachfront before collapsing face-first into the sand. Moments earlier, three women, believed to be the suspects, ran along the street and jumped into a taxi before quickly leaving the area. The victim had been partying with a British friend when they met the three women at a dance bar and kept drinking together. At one point, he was given a caipirinha cocktail, and after drinking it, he lost consciousness. When he woke up, his bank account was drained of £16,000. The two Brits, who declined to give their names, also said their iPhones were stolen by the women. The suspects were later identified 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 was previously jailed for six months for the same type of offence. 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. One of the victims said of Rio de Janeiro: 'Maybe I'll go back, but for now, that's enough of Brazil. 'I took two sips and I don't remember much of anything else.' He's praised the 19-year-old delivery driver who saw the crime unfolding and began filming while calling emergency services. The Brit added: 'He filmed, called an ambulance, and helped the police track down the suspects. Thank you to him, whoever he is.' More Trending In another terrifying incident abroad, an 85-year-old British pensioner was dragged to the ground during a mugging in Majorca. Footage of the incident shows the thief chasing his victim before pouncing. Police officers were eventually able to identify and locate the thief, who was recognised by the victim. Son Servera council said in a statement on Friday: 'We strongly condemn the unfortunate events that occurred yesterday morning in the centre of Cala Millor, in which a young man robbed and assaulted an elderly person with the objective of stealing his belongings.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: US hitwoman Aimee Betro who dressed in niqab for botched assassination guilty of murder plot MORE: Man and woman arrested after one-year-old girl dies after suffering 'serious injuries' MORE: British granddad who 'tried to drown daughter-in-law in pool' pleads to be freed
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Man drugged by 3 women collapses on beach, loses ₹18 lakh in ‘Good Night, Cinderella' scam
A British tourist was filmed collapsing face-first on a beach in Brazil after allegedly being drugged and robbed by three women in a so-called 'Good Night, Cinderella' scam. A British tourist was filmed collapsing on a beach in Brazil after allegedly being drugged. The incident occurred on Rio de Janeiro's popular Ipanema beach in the early hours of August 8, according to a report in Daily Star. CCTV footage shows the victim, a young university student, stumbling along the sand before falling unconscious, while three women — later identified as Amanda Couto Deloca, 23, Mayara Ketelyn Americo da Silva, 26, and Raiane Campos de Oliveira, 27 — were seen fleeing in a taxi. For some context The victim was on a holiday in Brazil with a British schoolfriend. The two Britons reportedly met the women at a samba dance before heading to a bar, where they were served caipirinha cocktails. One of the men said that the women gave him a caipirinha cocktail and he lost consciousness after drinking it. He woke up in hospital to discover that more than £16,000 (INR 18 lakh) had been taken from their bank accounts, along with their iPhones. What police says Police say the suspects are sex workers who target tourists. Campos de Oliveira has a prior conviction for the same crime. She and the others were recognised by the victims in social media videos filmed earlier that night. Investigators from the Special Tourism Support Unit have interviewed the taxi driver who transported the suspects, though he is not accused of wrongdoing. Authorities are warning visitors to be wary of strangers and never leave drinks unattended. What is the Good Night, Cinderella scam? The 'Good Night, Cinderella' scam — also as Boa Noite Cinderela — is a Brazilian term for crimes involving date-rape drugs secretly dissolved in a victim's drink. These sedatives, such as GHB, Rohypnol or scopolamine, act quickly to cause drowsiness, confusion, memory loss and loss of motor control, leaving the victim unable to protect themselves.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Brit tourist collapses on beach after being drugged & robbed by 3 women in ‘Goodnight, Cinderalla' scam
It comes as two visitors were shoved off a cliff in a similar chilling attack SPIKE HORROR 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 The Brit tourist fell to the ground after reportedly being drugged by local women Credit: Newsflash 4 Amanda Couto Deloca, 23, was arrested on suspicion of doping the Brit Credit: Newsflash 4 Mayara Ketelyn Americo da Silva, 26, was also arrested Credit: Newsflash 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. Read more on World NO FAIRYTALE Cannibals, date rape drugs & sex acts with TIGER - twisted tale behind Wicked 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.
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Brit tourist collapses on beach after being drugged & robbed by 3 women in ‘Goodnight, Cinderalla' scam
It comes as two visitors were shoved off a cliff in a similar chilling attack SPIKE HORROR Brit tourist collapses on beach after being drugged & robbed by 3 women in 'Goodnight, Cinderalla' scam Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) 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. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 The Brit tourist fell to the ground after reportedly being drugged by local women Credit: Newsflash 4 Amanda Couto Deloca, 23, was arrested on suspicion of doping the Brit Credit: Newsflash 4 Mayara Ketelyn Americo da Silva, 26, was also arrested Credit: Newsflash 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.
