The world’s worst travel scams

KATE SCHNEIDER, TRAVEL EDITOR
news.com.au
May 23, 2014 3:44PM

WHEN Australian traveller Sam Mangan booked a trip to Cabo, Mexico, he hoped to spend it relaxing on an idyllic beach with his friends.

However he claims his dream holiday took a rather unexpected turn when he became the target of scammers.

Keen to take to the water with his mates, 23-year-old Sam hired two jet skis. But when the Gold Coast resident returned them, he was shocked to be told they were damaged and he’d have to fork out $900 or face jail time.

“I’ve travelled all over the world, and it was easily the most terrifying ordeal of my life,” Sam told news.com.au.

“It must have been a scam. I saw no scratches, and it was impossible for us to have damaged them because the area where we were riding them was completely open water, there were no rocks or walls. We even had to get off the jet skis in the water while it was still a bit deep and swim in with them, to avoid any damage.”

He says the police became involved when they refused to pay up.

“The argument got quite heated and the vendor called the police. So we ended up at a local police station where we were told we’d have to pay or we’d be arrested, unable to fly out of the country (obviously) and put in the jail cells right behind us. We were told it could be months before we get to court to explain our side of the case.”

Realising it was a hopeless situation, they paid up.

Travel scams such as the jet ski scenario are surprisingly common and can be dangerous.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) warns on its Smartraveller website that Australian travellers continue to report harassment and threats of violence by jet ski operators on tourist beaches in Thailand such as Phuket and Koh Samui.

“Many travellers have reported that, after returning hired jetskis, they have been confronted by gangs claiming that the tourist damaged the jetski. There have been reported instances of such gangs threatening violence, including at knifepoint, if a large sum of money in compensation for the alleged damage is not paid.”

So key advice here is to remember to take photographs of the jet ski before you use it (including the underside).

Travel scams a real threat

Ultimately, as a tourist in a foreign country it’s an unfortunate reality that you’re a prime target for opportunist thieves, especially if you arrive without knowing what tricks to look out for.

Here are 20 more of the world’s worst — and most surprising — travel scams out there.

1. Drink up!

This is one of the oldest scams in Europe, and is particularly popular in places such as Budapest, Hungary. It involves local women or “helpful” taxi drivers luring unsuspecting (usually male) tourists to a particular establishment. The women are usually overly friendly and order a LOT of drinks. When the bill comes it’s exorbitant, the women refuse to pay and the staff and bouncers insist the male tourist coughs up the cash.

DFAT advises travellers to check prices before ordering in Hungary: “Certain bars, clubs and restaurants (mainly in the business district of central Pest) charge exorbitant prices. Disputes about overcharging have been known to lead to violence. Security guards may compel you to pay. Be wary of seemingly helpful taxi drivers, who may receive commissions for taking tourists to such establishments, and of other unsolicited invitations to socialise.”

This traveller learnt the hard way in a rather sticky situation!

2. Faking it in the city of romance

Unlicensed taxis are a big problem in various locations around the world, and Paris is definitely one of them. Just two weeks ago, a tourist was caught in a terrifying fake taxi ordeal in Paris. The 29-year-old ended up being caught up in a high-speed police chase, and she was forced to pay the $600 bill before being dumped by the side of the road.

Another common taxi scam sees drivers pretend they are lost and take tourists further than they want to go in order to jack up the price. It’s important to always get in a licensed cab and ask to use the meter.

3. Hot dog bother

At locations around the world — commonly airports — scammers eat hot dogs and “accidentally” squirt mustard on nearby travellers — or alternatively they’ll drop bird poo on them. While they clumsily “help” clean up the mess, valuables are stolen. So make sure to place your bags between your legs and pay attention.

4. Hotel hassles

It’s a red flag if hotel staff say they are having trouble with your card details, but tell you to go to your room and they’ll call if there are any issues. Later you may receive a call asking you to repeat the card details, and somehow a large (and unexpected) sum of money will be transferred out of your account.

Make sure you always go to the front desk for transactions as you can’t be sure who is pretending to be on the end of the phone.

5. Express kidnapping scams

Express kidnappings occur when tourists are abducted for short periods by criminals who hope to receive a pay-off from the victim’s family, business or ATM cards. DFAT warns tourists to be on alert in South American countries such as Brazil, Colombia and Bolivia, with the situation often turning violent or even deadly.

However, there are also an increasing number of fake abductions, called “virtual kidnapping”.

Perpetrators will wait for their victim to be in an uncontactable area (such as a place without phone coverage) and will contact their family, saying their loved one has been kidnapped and demand a ransom.

6. Gold ring scam

Some say if you haven’t had this scam tried on you, you haven’t really been to Paris. Typically a scammer will approach a tourist with a gold ring (or other valuable-looking object) and ask if it’s theirs. When the unsuspecting tourists picks it up for a closer look, someone else steps forward to demand money for the “newly-found gift”. Or the scammer will leave the ring in plain sight and wait for someone to pick it up before they pounce.

7. China’s cringe-worthy teahouse scam

Australians have been the target of a number of scams in China, including being drugged and robbed after accepting offers of food, drink or transportation from strangers; and the increasingly common “teahouse scam”.

According to DFAT, this is how it goes down: “An increasing number of tourists are being approached and invited for a drink at a teahouse nearby for an number of reasons including ‘to practice English’. Afterwards the tourist is presented with a vastly inflated bill and is not permitted to leave until they pay the bill by credit card. Physical violence, including serious assault, and credit card skimming or duplication has occurred.”

8. All tied up in Europe

There are many variations of this scam. Typically, someone will approach a tourist and place something on them. This could be as innocuous as tying a piece of string around their wrist, putting a flower in their pocket or placing a trinket in their hand. However, the person will then demand payment for the object, in some cases very aggressively. They may even scream that the item is being stolen, making the traveller very uncomfortable.

9. Gypsy baby toss

Here a gypsy woman will approach travellers — usually single females — and toss what appears to be a young child (really a doll) into their arms. Fellow scammers then grab valuables from the traveller amid the confusion. Move away quickly if approached by gypsy beggars. They may also attack with newspapers.

10. Spain’s sprig scam

In Spain there’s a popular scam where an older woman will offer a tourist a sprig of rosemary, as a sign of friendship. Then she’ll grab their hand, read their fortune and demand payment.

11. Good Samaritan scam

Scammers around the world often target tourists who look lost or having trouble communicating. They might approach with seemingly innocent intentions of helping out, but will then attempt to rob the unsuspecting tourists. The best thing to do is to look assertive and walk with a purpose, and refuse unwanted help. If you’re lost, go into a nearby restaurant or hotel for help.

12. Dual menus

Often a bar or restaurant will lure tourists in by providing a menu with cheap prices, then switching it with a pricier “tourist menu” once inside. It could see the bill double in the end. This scam is common in China and parts of southern Europe. Try to hold onto the menu first that is shown to you.


13. Bogus monks

Southeast Asia has its fair share of scams, but fake monks appear to pop up in almost all countries in the region. Dressed just like the real deal, these fake monks hit up tourist hot spots looking to collect “alms”, but they’re really after “financial donations”.

14. Driving you crazy

Travellers to small towns in East Africa may be approached by a bystander claiming their wheel bearing is spilling oil (or has some other problem). Lonely Planet co-founder Tony Wheeler explains: “In fact, the bystander has just sloshed a cup of oil onto your wheel, and tells you there’s a garage around the corner that’ll fix your problem.” The profit from the scam is shared between the bystander and the garage owner.

15. Fake police

Phony police officers are common in destinations such as Thailand and often falsely accuse travellers of committing crimes. For example, fake police may charge an on-the-spot fine of 5000 baht ($155) for putting out a cigarette in public. Make sure to check the officer’s ID and contact the real police if in doubt.

16. Paint the town red

In Argentina there’s a scam where someone will put paint (commonly a bright colour such as red) on a traveller’s bag, be very apologetic and try and wipe it off, then they grab it. If someone does this, hold onto your bag tightly and say you do not need help.

17. The ‘double-steal’

In Barcelona, a man on a bicycle may grab a seemingly random person’s bag and ride off with it. They may even cut it off. As the sympathetic bystander drops their bags to give chase, an accomplice will attempt to make off with the abandoned valuables.

18. Tuk-tuk trickery

This is most prevalent in Thailand, but common throughout Southeast Asia in general. A tourist may ask the driver to take them to a particular hotel, temple, or shop and he’ll say it’s closed/burned down/no good, but he just happens to know a better one close by! The driver gets a commission for delivering the tourist to the destination, and it’s usually a poor imitation of the desired destination.

There’s even an entire fake tourist centre not far from Bangkok airport, according to travel safety specialist at Travel Insurance Direct Phil Sylvester: “Here the travel agents will say they’ve never heard of your booked hotel, but thankfully they can arrange a room at another establishment. Phew, how lucky — NOT!”

19. Scoot away

Also in Thailand, tourists should be careful of where they leave a rented scooter. If it’s left outside a tourist attraction it may “disappear”and the hire company may try to make the visitor pay for the whole thing (when really it’s tucked away in the back of the shop again).

Try to drive a good distance before you decide to stop and be vigilant.

20. Gemstones

A tuktuk driver may offer travellers a “special deal” on a ride to a local temple. But at these locations so-called strangers will approach them and casually mention the merits of gem trading. If a traveller show interest in the gems, they will be taken to a store to spend thousands on “jewels” that are actually just polished glass.


So how can you avoid being taken advantage of while abroad?

Michael Callaghan, Executive General Manager at SureSave said Australian travellers should always be on the lookout for tricks.

“It’s very difficult to determine exactly how many people are victims of scams as many go unreported, but scammers are relatively common across regions such as Europe,” he said. “There are scams that show up time and time again, including pickpocketing, card skimming, and various confidence tricks. It pays to be informed, aware and to be watchful at all times.”

Ultimately, if you find yourself in a dangerous situation it’s best to co-operate.

DFAT advises to never agree to let companies use your passport as a deposit or guarantee before hiring jet skis or motorbikes.

This list was compiled from sources including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and insurance companies comparetravelinsurance.com.au, SureSave.net.au and Travel Insurance Direct. For more travel advice go to Smartraveller.gov.au.


http://www.heraldsun.com.au/travel/travel-advice/the-worlds-worst-travel-scams/story-fni0bfk2-1226928812296

World Cup: Brazil Mobilizes 157,000 Security Officials

Security forces will be spread among the 12 host cities and state capitals Vitoria, Aracaju and Maceio, which will all have base camps for teams playing in the FIFA World Cup.

Brasilia: Brazil said it is mobilizing 157,000 soldiers and police to ensure security during the World Cup, which opens in 20 days against a backdrop of violent protests and strikes.

The defense ministry yesterday said it would provide 57,000 navy, army and air force personnel for the event, including 21,000 who will be on a state of alert for situations requiring immediate intervention.

The ministry has invested 709 million reais (USD 322 million) since 2012 in modernizing its forces and preparing them for the tournament, which runs from June 12 to July 13.


Justice Minister Jose Eduardo Cardozo said he did not believe the recent string of demonstrations and strikes across Brazil would escalate to the level of protests that gripped the country last year during the Confederations Cup, a World Cup dress rehearsal.

Those protests drew a million people into the street and turned violent at times, embarrassing the tournament's organizers.

"Our feeling is that (the protests) will be smaller than the ones last June. But, sincerely speaking, we are prepared for any situation," Cardozo told journalists at a joint press conference with Defense Minister Celso Amorim.

The protesters are angry over the more than USD 11 billion being spent to host the World Cup in a country with glaring inequality and pressing needs in education, health care, housing and transport.

The security forces will be spread among the 12 host cities and state capitals Vitoria, Aracaju and Maceio, which will all have base camps for teams playing in the tournament.

The military will also work with police to secure the enormous South American country's 16,800 kilometers (10,400 miles) of borders.

The anti-World Cup protests have shrunk in numbers since last year, but have also grown more radical.

As the tournament approaches, a series of police strikes -- plus the threat of a nationwide strike by federal police --have also raised concerns about security in a country with one of the world's worst crime rates.

Around three million Brazilians and 600,000 foreign tourists are expected to attend the World Cup.

http://sports.ndtv.com/football/news/224644-world-cup-brazil-mobilizes-157000-security-officials

Brazil team bus attacked

2014-05-27 11:24

Cape Town - Brazil’s preparations for their World Cup campaign got off to an unsettling start when hundreds of protesters surrounded the team bus on the way to their first training session, hamming on the sides of the bus as it pulled away. The team were then greeted by even more protesters on arrival at the Selecao training ground.

According to KickOff.com website, the protests started outside the team’s hotel in Rio de Janeiro where coach Luiz Felipe Scolari had just met his squad on Monday. The hostile crowd, consisting mainly of striking teachers, covered the bus in stickers with messages protesting against next month’s tournament.

One of the banners read “There will not be a cup” while the crowd chanted "There will be no World Cup, there will be a strike”.


With just 16 days to go until the spectacle kicks off, the ongoing riots and protests, as well as the incompletion of three of the stadiums, is causing a growing concern over the country's readiness to host the tournament.


Brazil legend and Fifa World Cup ambassador Ronaldo voiced his personal concern and embarrassment over the situation in his country.

“In 2007 when they decided that the World Cup would be in Brazil, President Lula signed everything and agreed to everything and then they get here and there’s this bureaucracy, total confusion and lateness,” he said.

“It’s a shame. I am embarrassed, this is my country and I love it and we shouldn’t be transmitting this image abroad.

“But we mustn’t forget that Brazil wasn’t perfect before the World Cup. It was the same or worse.”

A total of 157 000 soldiers and police have been deployed to beef up security around the country, with an estimated 300 000 visitors expected in the country for the global event.

http://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/International/Brazil-team-bus-attacked-20140527

Food confiscated at Italy hotel

By Football Italia staff

Italy and England have seen their hotels booked in Brazil for the World Cup raided and fined for expired food.

Reuters report that the hotel chosen by the Azzurri for their training base at the Portobello Resort & Safari in Mangaratiba, Rio de Janeiro and the Hotel Royal Tulip, booked by Group D opponents England and also in Rio de Janeiro, have been raided by Brazilian health and safety officials.

It is understood that the hotels have been fined after an inspection carried out discovered expired food at both locations.

The raids were part of a wider campaign that also included inspection visits at 13 restaurants, supermarkets, bakeries, shops and hotels.

Italy’s prospective hotel was one of the biggest raids carried out and saw 25kg of seafood and margarine confiscated for being past its sell-by date and a further 24kg of meat, sauces, cheese and sugar removed for having no visible sell-by date. including shrimp, beef, salmon and butter confiscated, having been discovered as past their sell-by date, or without a sell-by date indicated.

Meanwhile, England’s hotel saw 2.6kg of salmon, parma ham and butter similarly removed from the premises.

Reuters also report that both hotels were ‘warned for not providing condoms to guests, as is required under Brazilian law’.

Netherlands’ team hotel, the Hotel Caesar Park, was also visited, but no irregularities were discovered there.

Many of the 32 competing nations at this summer’s World Cup are expected to bring their own food and chefs to Brazil.

http://www.football-italia.net/49707/food-confiscated-italy-hotel

Brazil's Ronaldo urges crackdown on World Cup vandals

DateMay 30, 2014 - 1:58PM

World Cup 2014: Ronaldo slams 'fake protesters'

Brazilian World Cup legend says police must react against "fake protesters" who cause damage on the streets, but says he supports peaceful demonstrations.

Former Brazil soccer star Ronaldo said on Thursday authorities must crack down if violent protests break out during the World Cup and urged police to "bring down the clubs" on vandals.

Strikes and small demonstrations are widespread two weeks from the June 12 opening match as many Brazilians who see no benefits from the costly event use the tournament as an opportunity to air a growing range of grievances.

"Protests are always valid ... But the moment masked vandals appear the police have to contain them," Ronaldo said at an event sponsored by the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo. "I think they have to bring down the clubs, get them off the street."

Security is one of the government's primary concerns.

Fernando Grella, the top security official for Sao Paulo state, told Reuters that police are assembling possible criminal cases against a small number of protest leaders, perhaps a few dozen, who he said are conspiring to "commit violent acts, break things, vandalize and attack people."

Ronaldo's warning came days after he said he was embarrassed for his country's failure to complete the promised infrastructure in an interview with Reuters that triggered a sharp response from President Dilma Rousseff.

"As I told Reuters, my embarrassment is on behalf of the population that really expected these large investments ... airport reforms, urban mobility, everything that was promised and not delivered," he said on Thursday.

Ronaldo is a member of the Local Organizing Committee and one of the most visible backers of soccer's world governing body FIFA and the Brazilian government. He was a member of the Brazil teams that won the World Cup in 1994 and 2002.

Reuters


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/fifa-world-cup-2014/world-cup-news-2014/brazils-ronaldo-urges-crackdown-on-world-cup-vandals-20140530-zrsvq.html#ixzz33Ci0tgZD

How British technology could keep World Cup fans safe from gunmen

By Paul Peachey, Cahal Milmo

12:41 PM Saturday May 31, 2014

A vendor wears a Brazilian soccer jersey as he waits for customers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo / AP A vendor wears a Brazilian soccer jersey as he waits for customers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo / AP

A mobile scanner designed to spot a 3D-printed plastic pistol hidden under a gunman's clothing is to be used in Brazil after threats by organised criminals to disrupt the World Cup.

The scanner - initially developed by British university physicists to help undercover police identify armed London gang members - can discover hidden weapons within a couple of seconds from up to a distance of 25 metres even if the weapon has no metal parts.

The makers say that one of the units is due to be taken to Rio de Janeiro and used unobtrusively in popular public areas during the tournament to identify potential threats in one of the world's most dangerous countries. More than 50,000 people were victims of homicide in 2012 in Brazil which has the third-highest murder rate in South America, behind Venezuela and Colombia, according to the United Nations.

The Brazilian authorities have ramped up their use of CCTV and other security measures in the run-up to the first of two global sporting events from this summer, with the Rio Olympics following in 2016.

Preparations for the World Cup have been dogged by protests over corruption and the huge costs, and threats by organised criminals last year to disrupt the tournament because of complaints about prison conditions.

Senior police said the device was the first effective system to spot plastic guns made using a 3D printer which have been identified as an emerging threat to the long-term decline in violent crime in Britain. The number of gun crimes has fallen 66 per cent since a peak in violence a decade ago, with 30 people killed in 2012/13.

A US group last year released a free blueprint for a downloadable gun known as the Liberator; it can be used to create 16 components to make a gun that is all-plastic apart from a metal firing pin. The plastic guns can avoid detection when passed through metal detectors and conventional scanners.

The scanner device is being flown for rigorous testing by the US military this week to assess if it can be used to spot explosive devices carried by potential suicide bombers. Pakistan and Venezuela have also shown interest in taking the technology, according to the marketers of the scanner.

Scientists say it has an 80 per cent success rate of identifying weapons. "It measures the shape, size and depth and can tell how symmetrical the object is," said Dr Stuart Harmer, one of the developers at Manchester Metropolitan University. "Handguns and bombs don't look like much else that's carried."

In a demonstration for The Independent this week, researchers showed how the system used high-frequency radio waves to scan a target and translate the radar result through a complex algorithm to assess whether it is a weapon. The user focuses on-screen cross-hairs to run over the target's body and bleeps if it identifies a weapon, including a plastic gun. Scientists say the scanner works best if the target is moving.

- The Independent
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11264627

World Cup protests continue in Brazil, snarl Rio traffic

Published time: May 31, 2014 02:39

Several demonstrations aimed at Brazil’s upcoming World Cup tournament took place in Rio de Janeiro on Friday, snarling traffic towards the city center.

At least two distinct protests gathered in Rio, organized mainly through online social networks, O Globo reported.

As with previous unrest in the country, many of those who showed up to Friday's events covered their faces with masks and wore dark clothing, holding signs with slogans such as “We want schools, subways, trains, buses, and standard hospitals FIFA.” A large group of teachers was said to have taken part in Friday’s mobilization.

The Latin American country has seen its share of riled demonstrators in the run-up to the World Cup. Protestors have come to link the exorbitant sums spent in preparation for the football tournament as a symptom of government corruption and ineptitude.

Many Brazilians feel that funds which have gone towards World Cup preparations should have been invested into transportation infrastructure and government services, chiefly education and healthcare.

Likewise, protesters have often specifically attacked FIFA, the international football federation, and even the group’s leadership and football players for what they say is the organization’s complicity with the country’s government.

Beyond the demonstrations, preparations for the world sporting event have run into a number of setbacks. FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke expressed concern on Thursday regarding the state of three of the twelve massive stadiums that have been built or refurbished for the event, capping off a two-week trip by warning organizers in Natal, Porto Alegre, and Sao Paulo - which will host the first match in two weeks - that it is now a “race against the clock.”

http://rt.com/news/162672-brazil-world-cup-protests/

Brazilian city Campinas gripped by dengue fever ahead of World Cup

DateMay 31, 2014 - 3:13PM

The Brazilian city where Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and Nigeria's John Mikel Obi will train for the World Cup is in the grip of a crippling dengue fever epidemic.

Workers in Campinas have embarked on a huge operation to eradicate mosquitoes, which spread the disease, before the Portuguese and Nigerian teams arrive.

Some 32,384 people have been infected by dengue this year in the southeastern city about one hour from Sao Paulo. At least three people have died.

"It's a record epidemic. It's bigger than the 11,500 cases registered in all of 2007," said Andrea Von Zuben, who co-ordinates the Campinas dengue control program.

Dengue is a viral infection carried by the aedes aegypti mosquito.

The fever is like chronic influenza with severe headaches, muscle and joint pain, vomiting and a rash.

Severe cases can be deadly. Three people have died of dengue this year in Campinas, women aged 27, 69 and 81. Three other deaths are being investigated to see if they were caused by the disease.

There is no cure for dengue, so prevention is the best medicine.

The World Health Organisation recommends people in infected areas prevent mosquito bites with window screens, insect repellant and mosquito coils.

It also suggests covering exposed skin - advice that may cramp Portuguese captain Ronaldo's bare-chested style, a topic of much commentary after his pectoral-flexing goal celebration at this year's Champions League final.

Brazil has been hit harder by dengue than any other country so far this century, with seven million cases reported between 2000 and 2013.

Von Zuben said the Campinas outbreak was being driven by a heatwave at the beginning of the year, the prevalence of a particularly virulent dengue strain and poor sanitation that leaves pools of standing water where mosquitoes breed.

But she said the areas where the Nigerian and Portuguese squads will be are a mosquito-control priority for health officials.

AFP


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/fifa-world-cup-2014/world-cup-news-2014/brazilian-city-campinas-gripped-by-dengue-fever-ahead-of-world-cup-20140531-zrtsu.html#ixzz33J32Yarb

Brazil squad ready but nation isn’t
Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side thrash Panama in friendly as workers scramble to finish five of the 12 stadiums

AFPPublished: 15:16 June 4, 2014Gulf News

Rio de Janeiro: Brazil thrashed Panama in a friendly on Tuesday, looking very much ready for the World Cup, although off the pitch the hosts were still rushing to finish their stadiums nine days from kick-off.

Star striker Neymar opened the scoring as Brazil routed their visitors 4-0 in the central city of Goiania, with Dani Alves, Hulk and Willian all adding goals.

But off-pitch problems continued to distract from the football, with workers scrambling to finish five of the 12 host stadiums.

The original deadline was December 31, but preparations have been plagued by chronic delays, cost-overruns and construction accidents that killed eight workers.


At Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo, which will host the opening ceremony and kick-off match between Brazil and Croatia, workers are still finishing temporary stands for 20,000 fans and VIP seats intended for heads of state.

The stadiums in Curitiba, Cuiaba, Natal and Porto Alegre are also unfinished to varying degrees.

Meanwhile, protests that have shaken Brazil before the World Cup continued in Goiania, where about 100 demonstrators gathered outside the hotel where the Brazilian team were staying ahead of their match.

“Wake up Neymar, for the people’s struggle!” chanted demonstrators, carrying signs with slogans such as “Fifa go home!”

Protesters from a wide range of political parties and activist groups have attacked the government for spending more than $11 billion (Dh40.4 billion) on the tournament, calling for it to place more priority on education, health and transport.

But, like other recent rallies, Tuesday’s was far smaller than the mass protests that marred the Confederations Cup, a World Cup dress rehearsal held one year ago, when a million people flooded the streets, some clashing with police.

As the clock ticks down to the World Cup and a presidential election in October, Brazil has also been hit by a wave of strikes. Recent police strikes — and the threat of more during the World Cup — have been among the government’s biggest headaches.

But federal police announced they had reached a deal for a 15.8 per cent raise in exchange for a promise not to strike in the coming months.

Police in the capital Brasilia have accepted the offer, which will be put to a vote in each of Brazil’s 26 states in the coming days, the federal police union said.

Brazil says it will have 157,000 police and soldiers providing security during the World Cup. The military will deploy 57,000 troops, including 21,000 on alert for emergency operations.

The government also downplayed problems with the country’s ageing airports, many of which are still undergoing renovations originally due to be finished for the World Cup.

“I can assure you we are prepared,” said Aviation Minister Wellington Moreira Franco, while admitting: “It is clear we have problems.”

But he said the transport overhaul was being done with an eye to the future. “The new objective is to have new airports for the country,” he said.

An estimated 600,000 foreign fans and 3.1 million Brazilians are expected to criss-cross the massive South American country during the tournament, and there are fears of transport chaos.

Organisers have shelved much of the infrastructure they had originally promised, from roadworks to a high-speed train to subway and monorail lines.

Teams, meanwhile, continued to trickle in to Brazil, having cut their rosters to the 23-player limit for a Monday deadline.

The Croatian and Iranian squads arrived on Tuesday, joining Australia, who arrived on May 28.
http://gulfnews.com/sport/football/brazil-2014/group-a/brazil-squad-ready-but-nation-isn-t-1.1343016

Travelling football fans urged to visit GP ahead of World Cup in Brazil

By David Millett on the 2 June 2014

A leaflet from Public Health England (PHE) warns fans of the health risks associated with visiting Brazil, including the potential need for yellow fever vaccination and antimalarial tablets for certain areas of the country.

It advises patients to 'see your GP, nurse or travel clinic for advice well in advance of your trip and remember to check you are up to date with your routine vaccinations'.

Dr Jane Jones, a travel health expert at PHE, warned that many of the health issues travellers may face ‘cannot be prevented by vaccinations’.

She said: ‘The health risks whilst travelling to Brazil will vary between individuals and many issues need to be taken into account, such as planned activities, length of stay and the general health of the traveller.

‘Preventive measures need to be taken; for example, consumption of safe food and water, avoiding accidents, safe sex, and protection from sun exposure and insect bites. A little caution and some sensible practices could avoid unpleasant illnesses which could ruin your World Cup experience.’

The FIFA World Cup will begin next week on 12 June and last until 13 July. England's first match, against Italy, takes place on 14 June.

http://www.gponline.com/travelling-football-fans-urged-visit-gp-ahead-world-cup-brazil/infections-and-infestations/immunisation/article/1296800

Police, strikers clash in Sao Paulo
Published: 7 Jun 2014 at 09.49

SAO PAULO - Brazil's World Cup preparations endured a rough, as police clashed with striking subway workers in Sao Paulo, massive traffic jams snarled the mega-city and fans booed the national team.


Commuters are seen at the Ana Rosa station during a Metro workers strike, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on June 6, 2014

The scuffle in the metro station and a separate anti-government protest that gathered 3,000 people raised fears of more unrest when Brazil and Croatia open the World Cup in Sao Paulo on Thursday.

Police fired tear gas and swung batons to beat back picketing strikers inside a central station after commuters tried to enter.

The strike, affecting millions of commuters, will continue for a third day Saturday after the workers' union and their employers failed to reach a deal on a pay raise.

Across town, meanwhile, demonstrators blocked the street in front of the Central Bank in a peaceful protest organized by the Force Union against the economic policies of President Dilma Rousseff.

"Our problem is not with the national team. We will cheer for them. But on October 5, we will send Dilma Rousseff to hell," said union leader Paulo Pereira da Silva, referring to the upcoming presidential election.

The subway strike caused headaches for fans who attended Brazil's labored 1-0 victory against Serbia in the team's final friendly in Sao Paulo's Morumbi stadium.

Sections of the crowd jeered the team led by Barcelona star Neymar as it struggled to find the net against the Serbians.

"Our players are ready to accept criticism when they don't play well," said manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, whose team is under massive pressure to deliver a record sixth World Cup trophy.

While Brazil played at Morumbi Friday, the first World Cup game will be played in the city's new Corinthians Arena, which is awaiting safety clearance to operate at full capacity, highlighting the authorities' struggle to be ready for the tournament.

Officials are hard-pressed to resolve the metro strike because the subway will be the main link to the arena for legions of fans.

With three of five metro stations disrupted by the strike, bumper-to-bumper traffic stretched as much as 251 kilometers (155 miles) as the subway system's 4.5 million users turned to cars or buses amid torrential rain.

"I'm going to have to return home. I can't get to work like this," said Pedro Henrique Rodrigues, a 28-year-old pastry factory worker who stood in a massive bus line.

It was the latest strike to hit Brazil, where bus drivers, teachers and police have staged walkouts in other cities in recent months to demand better wages.

The chaos in Sao Paulo is of the sort Brazilian officials and world football body FIFA want to avoid following the violent protests that marred last year's Confederations Cup, a World Cup dress rehearsal.

It was in Sao Paulo that mass protests erupted exactly a year ago as citizens took to the streets to voice anger at rising public transport fares.

The unrest ballooned into nationwide demonstrations against the more than $11 billion being spent on the World Cup, with more than one million people taking to the streets to demand money for hospitals and schools.

The protest movement has lost momentum since last June, but the transportation chaos risks rekindling anger in the countdown to the opening ceremony.

Rousseff has defended the government's preparations, insisting the money spent will leave a legacy of airports and transport infrastructure that will benefit Brazil for years to come.

But much of the other promised train and road infrastructure has been shelved.

Several of the 12 stadiums have yet to be finished. Eight workers died in construction accidents.

The president's popularity has taken a hit, with an opinion poll Friday showing that her support for the October election dropped to 34 percent in June from 37 percent in April.

She still led the pack of candidates, however, with her main rival, social democrat Aecio Neves, falling by one point to 19 percent.

- FIFA confident -

Despite the latest troubles, FIFA president Sepp Blatter predicted Thursday that tensions would subside once the football began.

"I'm an optimist. After the tournament kicks off, I think there will be a better mood," Blatter said.

Teams are trickling into Brazil. The Dutch team walked along Rio's Ipanema Beach after arriving Friday.

Australia, Bosnia, Chile, Croatia, Iran, Italy and Ivory Coast have also arrived.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/most-recent/414052/

Subway strikers, police clash in Sao Paulo

By Associated Press4:32 a.m.June 9, 2014

SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazilian police have used tear gas to disperse about 100 striking subway workers from a station in central Sao Paulo, the city that will host the World Cup opener this week.

Subway workers are on strike for higher wages and have violently clashed with police during recent protests.

Authorities are expecting almost all of the fans attending Thursday's opener in Sao Paulo to get to the stadium on the subway.

Union leader Alexandre Roland was one of the strikers hit by tear gas early Monday. He says that until the government sits down to negotiate, the strike will continue, even through the World Cup.

The strike has thrown Sao Paulo's gridlocked traffic into chaos. The metro area of 20 million relies heavily on the subway and overland commuter trains.

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/jun/09/subway-strikers-police-clash-in-sao-paulo/

Unbeleivable that this sort of thing happens at an international airport, alot of people been cleaned out apparently

ATM Scam at Rio Airport
http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowTopic-g303506-i1199-k4640955-o90-ATM_Scam_at_Rio_Airport-Rio_de_Janeiro_State_of_Rio_de_Janeiro.html