An American woman, Amber Berumen, shared her experience on social media about being robbed while traveling in a rideshare vehicle in Lapa, a central area of Rio de Janeiro, during the Carnival. She detailed the incident where a thief took advantage of her open car window to snatch her phone from her hand. Despite her attempts to chase the perpetrator towards the famous Arcos de Lapa, she was thwarted by an accomplice blocking her path, ultimately losing sight of the attacker.

In her account, Amber explained that the thieves not only stole her phone but also accessed her bank accounts, resulting in a significant financial blow, as her account was overdrawn by more than 40 thousand dollars. Additionally, she revealed that the criminals managed to infiltrate her email account by changing her password and even altering the language settings to Portuguese, indicating a sophisticated level of planning.

This incident highlights the increasing concerns over safety during large public events like Carnival in Brazil, particularly in tourist-heavy areas. The ease with which the attackers were able to manipulate her accounts raises alarm about digital security and the potential vulnerabilities when using digital services in a foreign country.