Ep 7. Barcelona

In the seventh episode of Scam City's first season we find ourselves in Barcelona, Spain. The episode follows host Conor Woodman as he delves into the various scams and cons taking place in the city.

Woodman starts off by exploring the tourist hotspot, Las Ramblas, where pickpocketing is rife. He meets with a former pickpocket turned informant, who explains the various techniques used by pickpockets in Barcelona. The informant takes Woodman to a pickpocket training ground, where he shows Woodman how to pickpocket successfully. It's a shocking revelation to see just how easy it is for pickpockets to take advantage of unaware tourists.

Next, Woodman visits the infamous Barrio Chino, also known as the red light district. He meets with a prostitute who reveals the various scams that take place in the area. The most shocking of which is known as the "champagne scam." This involves prostitutes enticing tourists into buying them champagne, which can cost hundreds of euros. The tourists are then charged an exorbitant amount for the champagne and forced to pay up. It's a scary and eye-opening look into the dark side of Barcelona's tourism industry.

Continuing his exploration of Barcelona's seedy underbelly, Woodman visits a street gang, known as "los manteros," who sell counterfeit goods on the streets. Here, Woodman learns about the dangers of trying to shut down these gangs and the cat-and-mouse game that takes place between them and the police.

The episode also takes a look at more traditional scams, such as the "ring scam" and the "ATM scam." In the ring scam, a tourist is approached by someone who has "found" a ring on the ground. The tourist is then convinced to buy the ring for what they think is a low price, only to find out later that the ring is worthless. In the ATM scam, a tourist is approached by someone offering to help them use the ATM. The scammer then steals the tourist's card and withdraws money from their account.

Throughout the episode, Woodman meets with various police officers and experts who offer insight into the gravity of the scams taking place in Barcelona. It's clear that these scams aren't just harmless fun, but can have serious consequences for unsuspecting tourists.

As with all episodes of Scam City, Woodman ends the episode on a positive note by offering tips on how to avoid falling victim to these scams. He also highlights the importance of reporting any incidents to the police, in order to help prevent them from happening in the future.

Overall, the Barcelona episode of Scam City is a fascinating and informative look into the darker side of the city's tourism industry. It's a must-watch for anyone planning a trip to Barcelona, as well as those interested in the intricacies of street crime and grifting.