https://br.usembassy.gov/security-alert-carnival-and-drugging-dating-scam-2025/
The State Department and its consulate in Rio de Janeiro are warning American travelers about a scam in which criminals seduce unsuspecting visitors, drug their drinks and steal their belongings. The scam occurs year-round, but the agency expects to see predatory behavior during Carnival, the raucous party kicking off this weekend and running through March 8.
The U.S. consulates and embassy in Brazil issued a security alert Feb. 3 titled “Carnival and Drugging-Dating Scam 2025.” Steve Royster, consular chief at the consulate general in Rio, told The Washington Post in an interview Thursday that scammers typically target young, male tourists in bars, nightclubs and crowded areas or through dating apps.