The R$40 Cheese That Cost R$4,000: Rio’s Beach Card Scam Is Catching Tourists Off Guard

A slice of grilled cheese on a Rio de Janeiro beach should set you back about 40 reais—roughly £5.90. But for one British tourist, a quick tap of her phone ended in a £590 shock. Lisa Selby paid for two slices with her debit card, only to discover the vendor had quietly added two zeros to the card reader just before she confirmed the payment. He showed her the correct amount, then turned the terminal away, added the extra digits, and walked off without a receipt.

This isn’t an isolated incident. Last month, a beach vendor was arrested after a British man was tricked into paying £1,500 for a kebab. An Argentinian tourist found herself charged £3,000 for a £3 corn on the cob. The scam relies on tourists being unfamiliar with the local currency and trusting the vendor’s device.

Here’s how it works: the seller asks you to check the amount, then secretly alters it before you tap your card or phone. Some even shove the reader at your device before you have a chance to look. The problem is, once you’ve authorised the payment, your bank may not help. Unlike bank-transfer fraud, where victims often get refunds, face-to-face card scams are treated as buyer-seller disputes. Without a receipt or invoice showing the agreed price, chargeback claims are usually rejected.

Selby alerted Monzo immediately, but was initially told the pending transaction would be returned—then informed it couldn’t be reversed. After Guardian Money intervened, Monzo refunded her as a goodwill gesture. The Financial Conduct Authority says victims can argue they didn’t consent to the final amount, and may complain to the Financial Ombudsman if unhappy.

Best advice for beachgoers: pay in cash, or insist on holding the card reader yourself to swipe or insert your card. A few seconds of caution could save you thousands.