Scam City

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…

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 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.

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.

Nobody can call themselves a true world traveller until they’ve survived Delhi. For backpackers going to Delhi is like a rite of passage. But ask anyone and they’ll tell you, before you can find yourself, first you have to lose yourself... just be sure to watch out for all those quack doctors who will prescribe you anything and everything in order to line their pockets with your cash. With the help of secret cameras the crew follow Conor’s every move while he and George the fixer try to unearth some of the deadly scams that Delhi has to offer.

Istanbul is a city that offers a different face depending upon the areas you visit, and whether you do it during the day or at night. This exotic blend can be both fascinating and disorienting - a perfect environment for the skillful scammer to target vulnerable tourists. But in a clever feat of his own, Conor Woodman turns the tables on a scammer, and convinces him to become an operative for the film. In rare and revealing scenes, we experience first-hand the clever techniques that this con man uses to fleece his tourist victims. It turns out to be a punishing workout for Conor, but the reward is worth the effort in the end.

In Vegas, host Conor Woodman ventures into the shadows to discover there’s a lot more to the tourist industry than meets the eye. In fact it’s a multi-layered hustle that takes Conor on a journey from the swankiest casinos and glamorous nightclubs to beneath the Strip itself, where tunnel dwellers live in the storm drains of Las Vegas, facing constant danger from rising waters. From them, Conor discovers the realities of life in “Sin City”, away from the glittering façade.

Host Conor Woodman returns to Thailand’s capital city of Bangkok, the one of the hottest cities on earth; and land of the three-wheeled auto rickshaws also know as Tuk-tuks. It has been 15 years since his last visit, this time to see if the gem scam he first encountered there is still being run – and to discover another one.

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?