Scam City

As day turns to night, Prague’s scammers emerge readying themselves for the scores of tourists enjoying the cities nightlife and who are completely unaware they’ve been marked by those who disguise themselves as beautiful girls, harmless hawkers and friendly taxi drivers.

Conor Woodman is in Rio, one of the sexiest cities in the world and never more so than at Carnival time. Millions of tourists descend on the city for the biggest party on the planet. And with so many tourists out reveling on the streets it’s party time for Rio’s scammers too.

Conor Woodman enters into the labyrinthine city of Marrakech, where nothing is what it seems. He navigates through the Jamaa El Fna, the largest square of Africa, dodging Gnawa dancers and snake charmers who take your money before you know what’s happening. He is led by false guides to fake rugs sold by ruthless bazaar owners. It’s a maze-like world where you’re lost without a guide, but there’s no way to be sure whose side the guide is on. Is Conor up to the challenge?

Conor Woodman is in Rome, on a mission to uncover the gritty underworld that crawls under the thriving tourist scene of the Eternal City. At the Coliseum, he finds rogue Centurions who threaten tourists and unsheathe their swords to fight over territory. Right under the dome of St Peter’s, he discovers tourist agencies that employ muscle to scare competitors off their streets and conquer contested corners. There is a turf war underway in Rome, in which tourists have become the spectators and the prize.

Conor Woodman visits the pick-pocket capital Barcelona, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Whether it’s a day at the beach or an evening at the football or just a walk down the Ramblas enjoying the night life, this city has so much to offer. But look out this town has a darker secret, it’s home to one of the most skilled set and creative con men and thieves in the world; they’ll take your money off you day or night. Conor sets out to see exactly who these people are, how they operate and who knows he may even become part of the gang.

Buenos Aires is a fast moving city bringing in around 10 million tourists annually. But like the Tango with its themes of deception and trickery of love, Conor Woodman discovers that many visitors leave Buenos Aires with broken hearts, after being scammed by pickpockets, con-artists, and grafters. Conor sets out to discover that the most common scams involving tourists are pick pocketing, clip joints, vice girls, taxi scams and hotel scams. But prevalent throughout the whole of the city and running out of control is Buenos Aries’ problem with counterfeit money…