Mercadão de SP is a mandatory stop, but it's worth paying attention to scams

The São Paulo Municipal Market, located in the center of São Paulo, is an iconic tourist attraction. There’s that famous mortadella sandwich and the cod pastry – which is crazy!

If the stop is on your itinerary, start paying attention as soon as you enter. Fruit sellers often approach customers offering tastings: “How about a date with strawberry?” It's delicious... The exotic fruit looks like chocolate! The argument is the same: “If it’s your first purchase, there will be a promotion”. And then, the customer is hooked. The fruit was so delicious… The problem is that the bill for a few strawberries or dates can easily reach figures above R$100.

View this photo on Instagram

A post shared by @golpe_do_mercadao_sp

The scam always appears on social media, especially among tourists from other states who have never heard of the “trickery”.

The concessionaire that manages the São Paulo Municipal Market determined new rules for sellers to avoid the 'fruit scam'. According to the administration, it is no longer allowed to approach customers using metal knives, only plastic ones.

Furthermore, sellers must be at least one meter away from the customer. The customer cannot be approached by more than one retailer. But there is always a “smart guy” to abuse the will of others. Stay 👀!

Now you know, when you check in on your postcard, it’s worth staying quick 😉.

Read also

What is St Patrick's Day?

Saint Patrick's Day, celebrated on March 17, is an annual celebration of Irish culture and heritage. The date marks the death of Ireland's patron saint, Saint Patrick, who is known for bringing Christianity to the island. The festival is celebrated throughout Ireland and in many places around the world where there are Irish communities.