Hungarian gang ripped off foreign tourists in Budapest, the damage reaches EUR 2.5 million – PHOTOS

A Hungarian group ripped off foreign tourists in Budapest pubs with more than EUR 2.5 million (HUF 1 billion) by significantly overpricing their drink consumption. The police investigation started in 2024 after they learned about the fraud scheme from reports submitted by foreign nationals. The police arrested five men and five women, while the number of foreign victims probably reached hundreds of whom they could identify 33 persons.

Hungarian gang ripped off foreign tourists in Budapest

According to police.hu, the financial damage caused by the group of Hungarians reached EUR 2.5 million, which they acquired by overpricing the drinks of foreign nationals having a good time in Budapest pubs. Police officers of the National Investigation Agency (NNI) and the police headquarters of the capital’s 7th district participated in the operation.

Based on the authorities’ suspicion, the scheme involved several women who contacted wealthy foreign men visiting Hungary through dating apps. They met mainly in Budapest’s 7th and 8th districts and convinced the men to continue the date in a pub. In the pub, they ordered expensive drinks and cocktails one after the other. As a result, although the men generally consumed little, the bill rose high and the women persuaded their new acquaintances to pay for it. However, the final sum was significantly higher than their real consumption.

Sometimes it happened that, taking advantage of the guests’ drunkenness, they made them pay the bill multiple times. Some victims paid more than HUF 1 million (EUR 2,500) for the drinks. The group followed a strict hierarchy and it was well-organised. The bosses were the owners of the pubs, who got some bartenders, waiters and security guards involved in the scheme. Some members of the gang were blood-related.