Holidaymakers from the UK are being warned of a “Goodnight Cinderella” spiking scam which has become worryingly common in Brazil where tourists are robbed after drugs are put in their drinks
Brit tourists have been warned that they are “easy prey” for “Goodnight Cinderella” spiking scams on holiday and told what mistakes not to make.
Cases have become increasingly common of holidaymakers falling victim of glamorous looking women, lurking in bars and clubs especially in Brazil, who allegedly put powerful sedatives in their drinks and then rob them once they pass out. The scams known as “Goodnight Cinderella” have led to several Brits finding themselves with money, belongings and passports taken by the women who often work in gangs in popular tourist locations like Rio da Janeiro.
Police in Brazil have said that British tourists are seen as “easy prey” as they may well be naive to what is happening, often have expensive items on them as well as cash, and do not know the local area well.
READ MORE: Best times to see lunar eclipse ‘blood moon’ in the UK tonightREAD MORE: UK weather maps reveal monster rainstorm will drench cities with one area spared
Drugs are slipped into their drinks and then if they go back to their hotel with one of the women, they pass out and are robbed, according to police. Professor Bayard do Coutto Boiteux, of Rio de Janeiro Tourism Ambassadors Association, also warned that the problem usually begins from sex tourism.
He told The Sun: “What happens is that some tourists come to Brazil looking for sex tourism, which is completely inappropriate. We are by no means a sexual paradise. When they come here looking for sex tourism, a number of things can happen because there is no effective control by the authorities over prostitution.”
He continued: “While they’re there, seeking sex tourism and talking to these women, they, in reality, in a moment of inattention, slip a pill into their drink. And this pill often causes drowsiness, a state of mind that takes the person away from their daily routine. And then, these women usually go to the place where the tourists are staying, which is also dangerous.”
He also gave particular advice for tourists to never take people back to their hotels. Professor Boiteux said: “Never take anyone to the place where you are staying. Never. Not to an Airbnb, not to a hotel.”
It comes after a 21-year-old Brit has spoken out about how he blacked out after taking just a few sips of a drink in Brazil in a ‘Goodnight Cinderella’-style sting. The man was later filmed collapsing unconscious on a Brazilian beach and was rescued thanks to a Good Samaritan who spotted him desperately needing help after passing out on the beach.
Now having recovered, the engineering student says he was offered a Capriahna cocktail by a trio women. He said: “I took one, two sips and then nothing.”
He was spotted staggering towards Rio de Janeiro’s popular Ipanema beach before collapsing. The young man was filmed collapsing on the sand after his drink was spiked. The victim, who agreed to a filmed interview with a Brazilian media outlet outside his holiday accommodation with a second British student who was also targeted, wanted to thank the passerby who not only helped him, but also filmed the women running away.
The teenage delivery driver has been credited with aiding the holidaymakers, calling an ambulance and helping police catch the alleged culprits. The British pair thanked him in their video interview overnight. The mystery Good Samaritan who also filmed the shock images of the 21-year-old Brit collapsing unconscious on the sand when he realised something was amiss, told Brazilian 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 sickening crime occurred during the British pair’s night out when they were approached by the female thieves at a bar in the Rio neighbourhood of Lapa. They had been in Brazil for 10 days last month when they were targeted and had reportedly travelled to the South American country to celebrate the graduation of one of the university students.
They agreed to get into a taxi with the women who offered them Caipirinhas, which they had no idea had apparently been laced with sedatives at a beach bar. The women were filmed fleeing in another taxi with the mobile phone of the student filmed falling on the sand, which they reportedly used to steal an estimated £2,000 that the victim’s bank is now expected to reimburse.
The suspects have been arrested and named as Amanda Couto Deloca, 23; Mayara Katelyn Americo da Silva, 26; and Raiane Campos de Oliveira, 27. Meanwhile, Francini Demétrio Sitas, dubbed the “Queen of Goodnight Cinderella” was remanded in custody at the start of July, suspected of drugging, robbing, and beating a Frenchman in Rio de Janeiro.
She reportedly has dozens of entries for this type of scam on her criminal record. Police say she targets exclusively foreign tourists and estimate the total amount she has stolen exceeds 100,000 BRL (£13,370).