Fake monks, nasty taxi drivers, overpriced carnival tickets. The private television fulfills an educational mission: “Warning rip-offs” warns of scammers in tourist locations. But currently travel is apparently the most important activity. Don’t be surprised if you become a victim.
It seems like traveling is the most important thing in the world right now. The fact that a war is raging in Ukraine is just the way it is. It doesn’t matter that heating costs will soon triple. Germans travel like there’s no tomorrow. To the beach, to the cities, the main thing is to get away! Nobody makes a bargain anymore. Everything full, everything expensive. And then there’s the rip-off!
The private broadcaster Kabel1 fulfills an educational mission. He warns against scammers. “Beware of rip-offs – holiday scammers on the trail” is the name of the long-running hit. In the new episode, reporter Peter Giesel and his camera team head to New York. We learn that the Big Apple is not only worth seeing, but also an Eldorado for criminals. That didn’t come as a surprise, but it does marvel at the audacity of organized tourist crime.
New York City is the seventh most visited city in the world. 65 million tourists come every year, and 50 billion dollars in sales are made with the flow of visitors. Reporter Peter Giesel says: “Scammers and scammers are not far away. There’s a lot of work for me there!” That’s true. The Kabel1 team experienced that a hot dog can sometimes cost ten dollars because it supposedly supports veterans. Of course that’s not true. The sausage in a bun – “I’ll cream it at home, it’s that expensive!”
The supposed Uber driver takes a total of 220 dollars instead of the usual 60 to 80 dollars from JFK airport to the city center. Previously, he had declared: “I’m the caviar guy.” And: “I’m a money maker.” When the reporter team complained, the driver yelled: “I don’t care.” And: “Call me.” the damned cops!” A driver also rips off in Rio de Janeiro. Twice as much as usual. Now you have to interject: Folks, it’s your own fault! If you naively fall into the obvious tourist trap, you pay more! Do you remember that beautiful show from the 60s? “Watch out, trap! – Nepper, smuggler, farmer catcher” has also uncovered and warned of fraudsters’ tricks. So now Cable1. Why not? Neppers, smugglers, smugglers – that was the way it was and always will be.
Back to “rip-offistan”, as reporter Giesel calls it. Buddhist monks collect donations in New York City. For a temple. But where is the temple? In New York, in Taiwan? We will never know. “It’s so fraudulent!” the Kabel1 reporter placarded into the camera. But there is a pretty ugly lucky chain. Does it help karma? The president of the Buddhist Council in New York is also upset. The supposed monks who smoke heavily and eat fast food profusely, he says, “are breaking spiritual commitments.”
Back to Rio de Janeiro. Those who want to take the cable car to the Christ statue will quickly find it much easier. In the slums, however, only a few enrich themselves. Peter Giesel also meets an honest tour guide. He gives at least 20 percent to the needy. On to the Rio Carnival. Tens of thousands of dancers whirl and hundreds of thousands of visitors celebrate. There are also traps in ticket sales. A seat on a grandstand costs the equivalent of almost 120 euros. “I don’t think that’s realistic,” said the Kabel1 rip-off expert. The samba night rises. Can you also buy last minute? “Put them in quick!” warns the salesperson. “What did I just buy? A piece of toilet paper?” asks the German reporter. Yes, because he buys a ticket for the previous day. Silly. It’s even more stupid when the real 100-euro ticket suddenly costs 600 euros!
We learn: Watch out! Or maybe it’s better to stay at home? Because in addition to the rip-off, you can also bring COVID with you as an unwelcome souvenir. And that’s definitely worse than any stupid tourist trap.
Von Carina Pawlak
