Russian Mafia ripping off tourists in Miami Beach
By bostonphil
@bostonphil (4459)
United States
January 22, 2012 2:50am CST
This is a fascinating story. Nightline did a segment and then I later did a search.
The Russian mafia is very active in Miami Beach. Among their schemes is to set up fake nightclubs and rip off tourists, usually men who are alone.
Here is how it works. They have some beautiful girls who work with them. These girls pick up men at hotels, clubs and restaurants. The men buy them drinks. The girls then invite the men to a party at a private club. These clubs are owned by The Russian mafia. They are not legitimate businesses. They are fake clubs. Everyone working in the club is part of the mob.
The men get intoxicated. I think they may be drugged. And the credit cards are skimmed. They are charged $2,000 for a bottle of liquor plus a $500 tip and it goes on and on. Before it is over, the credit cards have been charged thousands of dollars sometimes totaling $25,000 or more.
The men, of course, do not realize it for days. There have been over 90 victims but many do not want to press charges because they are married. They have been in Miami on business or a solo vacation. They do not want to have to tell the wife they were picked up beautiful girls and went off drinking with them.
There have been arrests. Two of the beautiful girls have already confessed and are agreeing to work with the government.
Fascinating story.
2 people like this
6 responses
@bostonphil (4459)
• United States
22 Jan 12
There are all kinds of mafias all over the world. In the United States, we have mafias of all races and ethnicities.
The Russian Mafia has become very powerful in South Florida. One law enforcement official said that it was because they like the sun and beaches just like everyone else.
I think the FBI has more than just the two girls in custody but the girls have already pleaded guilty and are going to work with the government to convict the others.
@bostonphil (4459)
• United States
23 Jan 12
Well, the situation is already out of control. The Russian mafia has set up shop in South Florida. This nightclub scam and scheme is only one of many.
So why South Florida? Because the mob likes the sun and beaches just like everyone else.
@KOSTAS499 (1624)
• Greece
29 Jan 12
The same thing happens in Istanbul Turkey. Boys be careful!
1 person likes this
@bostonphil (4459)
• United States
29 Jan 12
I think that girls also have to be equally careful. They also meet someone at a club and can end up being victimized.
These types of problems happen all over the world wherever there are tourists and or nightspots. There are a lot of mafias out there, maybe unique but also similar.
@KOSTAS499 (1624)
• Greece
30 Jan 12
True. We must have 4 set of eyes while on vacation. I was in Prague, Czech Republic and 3 guys tried to steal my stuff. I understood what they had in mind just by a look one of them gave me and walked away. Always alert!
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
23 Jan 12
Well, this just goes to show that you need to be careful when you go off to places and people you do not know are trying to lure you into something. If they cannot interest you into a place that is well known, protect yourself as you never know sometimes what is a SCAM and what is REAL until it is usually way to late. Personally I wish there was a site you could post this information on as well as sites, etc I know about for sure.
1 person likes this
@bostonphil (4459)
• United States
23 Jan 12
This happens all the time. People go on vacation and let their guard down. There are criminals who prey on tourists. They earn their living doing so.
I live in Austin, Texas and we have a great music scene.. There are lots of problems with persons getting held up at gunpoint or attacked after leaving a club. Other problems include someone putting something in your drink at a club. Often the victims are tourists but sometimes they are residents.
There seems to be a lot of criminal behavior around entertainment and the hospitality industry.
@mr_pearl (5018)
• India
23 Jan 12
Truly fascinating!! The b***dy Russian mafias make money in USA... Amazing!! I thought USA was a safe place for anyone to live... But we hear now of a scandal which has been going on for some time and they have not got the culprits yet... That is so bad... I hope the US Govt is at least aware of what is goin on...
1 person likes this
@bostonphil (4459)
• United States
23 Jan 12
Actually, the United States is very unsafe for everyone. You always have to be careful just in case you come for a visit. Some cities are more dangerous than others but you always need to be aware of your surroundings as it is put.
We are a multicultural nation and we have mafias and gangs of every religion and ethnicity. The Russian Mafia is one of the newer ones.
If you ever visit, be careful. Tourists are very easy prey.
The feds are very aware of The Russian Mafia but it is not that easy to get them all. There is always others to replace the ones taken down. They are a rough crowd. Some are ex-KGB agents and some are survivors of Stalin's labor camps. One was a rocket scientist. The are tough and smart.
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
23 Jan 12
and what would they say if the wives found out so big of a charge on credit card LOL
anyway I think this will teach them to be more careful and loyal to the wives
@bostonphil (4459)
• United States
23 Jan 12
Agreed. I think that a lot of these men are left red faced. And maybe with very large credit card charges.
On Nightline, one of the victims was eagerly interviewed. He was a weather man as well as a ladies man who loves attention. He minded losing the money but seemed to love the publicity. He is also single and did not mind admitting that he thought he was going to have a romantic interlude with both ladies who picked him up. Before the night was over, his friends charged thousands of dollars to his American Express card. And he had to really fight with American Express to reduce the charges or eliminate them altogether. I can not remember how it ended.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
28 Jan 12
You know, I can see why a lot of the victims wouldn't want to press charges because of their actual relationship status. However, I wouldn't think that if the government was the ones that were really wanting to punish the mafia, I would think that they could do the trial in such a way that it wouldn't reveal everything to the spouses of the victims.
Of course, I do think it is terrible that people are ripped off in this way.
1 person likes this
@bostonphil (4459)
• United States
28 Jan 12
Toursits are easy prey anywhere they go. Even when we know we need to be careful, it is easy to let your guard down when you are on vacation and hopefully having fun.
Among the victims who was not afraid to come forward was a weather man from the East Coast. This weather man is a character of sorts. He is known as a ladies man and not afraid to admit it. I do not believe that he is married.
This weather man has since lost his job. He gave too many interviews about his experience being a victim. He wrote about it. If I were him, I would have been a little more cautious. When it is all said and done, he was and still is dealing with The Russian Mafia. He should keep his mouth shut.
