Rio de Janeiro police target tourism scams near Christ the Redeemer

The Civil Police in Rio de Janeiro have launched an operation targeting illegal tour guides, ticket scalpers, and unauthorized service providers near the Christ the Redeemer monument. The action, coordinated by the Special Tourism Support Precinct (Deat), follows numerous reports of tourists being targeted by scams and irregular charges.

Investigations revealed that suspects often offer unauthorized tickets, transportation, and guided tours, sometimes using threats against those who refuse their services. Recent reports include a tourist losing R$ 500 to a scalper in the Cosme Velho area. Authorities are also monitoring illegal parking attendants and unauthorized guides in the Paineiras and Cosme Velho regions to protect visitors.