① Scammed at the Airport: YouTuber
A video of a travel YouTuber being blatantly scammed at a Brazilian airport has stirred up controversy. The YouTuber runs the channel “MariRoad: Traveling the World with a Puppy ” and is currently traveling with her dog.
She visited the Living HNK café at the Viracopos Campinas International Airport in Brazil. She ordered two beers, a cake, and a cup of coffee at the café. Upon checking the receipt, she was charged 128 Real (approximately USD 24 ).
After leaving the café and waiting for her flight, she checked her payment details. She had confirmed the amount as 128 Real but discovered that she had been charged 256 Real. So, she headed back to the café to get a refund.
The staff looked flustered when he saw the YouTuber. He closed his eyes tightly as if he were exchanging eyes with the manager standing next to him.
When the YouTuber pointed out the miscalculation, the staff reacted harshly. The manager seemed to think lightly, pretending to check the transaction details as if he already knew it.
The staff eventually said, “We’ve been waiting for you. It was a calculation mistake.” Another staff came and canceled the payment and processed it again. The manager told the YouTuber then, “We were waiting for you.”
The YouTuber expressed her thoughts through captions, saying, “If they knew in advance, shouldn’t they have canceled the payment without having to check when I walked into the café?” She also mentioned that the exact double charge seemed intentional, not just a mistake of pressing the wrong number.
② Reactions Online to the Video
The YouTuber suggested it would be best not to visit the café at the Brazilian airport. She also emphasized the importance of receiving and checking the receipt right after payment, even in other travel destinations, including South America.
When using a card abroad, checking the payment details immediately is important. The same mistake of incorrect payment could happen to you, and double payment could also occur. It’s a good habit to check your receipt right after the payment. The YouTuber said, “I hope this video spreads far and wide so that no one else falls victim to this.”
People who saw the video expressed their anger. Comments included, “You did well! It’s so frustrating. I wonder how many travelers they’ve scammed. They’re terrible scammers, taking advantage of busy travelers who don’t check their receipts”, “An airport business doing this… How many scams have they committed so far? They probably think, ‘Since they’re foreigners, we’ll just charge twice as much and if they notice, we’ll just correct it'”, “They didn’t apologize at all, did they? If they’re going to scam, they should act better.”
One tourist shared a similar experience in Brazil. The tourist said, “I went on a business trip to Brazil last year and bought some gifts at a supermarket, and the cashier did the same. I was charged about 600 Real for the purchase of 150 Real. I made a fuss and called the manager, and they processed the payment again. It’s funny and pitiful to see them trying to match the wrong calculations at the counter.” Most were shocked that payment scams were happening at the airports.
③ Infamous Brazilian Security
Brazil is one of the countries known for poor security. In 2019, Forbes reported that foreign residents considered Brazil the “most dangerous country.”
Brazil’s insecure safety was cited as the most severe risk factor. A Brazilian resident from New Zealand said, “I felt that people are always living in fear.”
Brazil is known for its poor security in major cities. Tourist cities like Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo are infamous for their notoriety. In November last year, a shocking incident occurred in which a woman was almost kidnapped in broad daylight in the city center. This happened in São Paulo, and passengers who were passing by came to this woman’s rescue.
Pickpockets often impersonate police officers to help tourists and steal their belongings. Corruption within the police force is also severe.
The most dangerous area is the favela, a slum in Brazil. These slums are common in big cities and are spread throughout the country. There are over 70 favelas in Rio de Janeiro and many more in towns like São Paulo, Brasília, and Belo Horizonte.
Drug cartels control the favelas. They are considered dangerous even within Brazil. It’s an area that travelers should avoid visiting.
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