Miguel Tanfelix shares how he got scammed in Brazil

Without fully grasping the conversion, he ended up paying what he later realized was the equivalent of around ₱18,000 for a meal. Thinking he had simply spent a normal amount, he moved on… only to discover the next day that more money seemed to have vanished than expected.

Miguel went back to the restaurant daily, trying to piece together what happened. Thankfully, the restaurant owner was cooperative, and they reviewed CCTV footage. He was seen handing over bills but the exact count was unclear on camera.

The situation escalated to the point where the local police got involved (yes, really), since the owner’s husband was an officer. What followed was an unexpected “2v2”—Miguel and the owner on one side, the police and waitress on the other, with Portuguese conversations flying over his head.

In the end, there was no resolution, just a hard-earned lesson in currency exchange, communication gaps, and solo travel realities. As Miguel put it, it was basically a birthday “treat” he won’t forget.