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Woodman: THE WORLD'S GREATEST CITIES
ATTRACT VISITORS BY THE MILLIONS --
SOFT TARGETS FOR THE WAITING SCAMMERS.
I'M CONOR WOODMAN.
I'VE TRAVELED THE GLOBE, WRITING ABOUT ALL KINDS OF TRADE,
AND NOW I'M INVESTIGATING THE TOURIST TRAIL.
THE GUIDEBOOKS WILL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT TO SEE,
BUT THERE'S ONE THING THEY DON'T TELL YOU.
IT'S A CHAPTER THE THIEVES DON'T WANT WRITTEN.
USING HIDDEN CAMERAS, I'LL UNCOVER THE SCAMS
THAT ARE EVERY TOURIST'S NIGHTMARE.
I WANT TO SEE WHAT SHE DOES,
AND I WANT TO SEE HOW SHE DOES IT.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
SORRY. HANG ON.
ARE THERE GUYS BLOCKING THE DOOR?
I'LL MEET THE SCAMMERS...
WAIT!
...BEFRIEND THEM, AND LEARN THE TRICKS OF THE TRADE.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE JOKING.
Man: YES.
SIX TIMES WHAT YOU CHARGED ME TO GET OUT THERE?
I GET SCAMMED SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
I'M HERE IN BUENOS AIRES TO UNCOVER
A MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR ILLEGAL TRADE
WHERE TOURISTS ARE THE NUMBER-ONE TARGET.
I'M GOING UNDERCOVER TO SEE IF I CAN FLUSH OUT THE TRICKSTERS.
MY EVERY MOVE WILL BE CAPTURED BY THE "SCAM CITY" CREW
SECRETLY FILMING WITH THE LATEST COVERT CAMERAS.
WE'VE CLEVERLY BUILT THEM INTO EVERYDAY TOURIST GARB,
LIKE BOOKS AND BAGS.
WALKING AROUND BUENOS AIRES,
IT'S EASY TO BE SEDUCED BY ITS CHARMS.
I'D HEARD THAT THIS WAS THE PARIS OF THE SOUTH,
BUT BENEATH THE BEAUTIFUL SURFACE
IS A MUCH DARKER WORLD --
A WORLD WHERE SCAMMING IS REVERED
AND HUSTLERS RULE THE STREETS.
IT'S MY EXPERIENCE THAT TAXI DRIVERS ALMOST EVERYWHERE
ARE NOTORIOUS FOR RIPPING OFF TOURISTS,
SO THIS SEEMS AS GOOD A PLACE AS ANY TO START.
HMM. THIS IS A SURPRISE.
THAT WAS THE MOST DIRECT ROUTE AND THE CORRECT CHANGE.
GRACIAS.
WELL, THAT'S REALLY LEFT ME SCRATCHING MY HEAD.
I THINK I MAY FINALLY HAVE FOUND A CITY
WHERE THE TAXI DRIVERS DON'T SCAM YOU.
HOW REASSURING.
MY DRIVER DROPS ME OFF IN THE COSTANERA SUR AREA,
A HOT SPOT WHERE LOCAL FOOD TRADERS
FIGHT FOR THE TOURIST DOLLARS.
WITH TEMPERATURES RISING,
IT'S TIME TO TEST THE HONESTY OF THE STREET VENDORS.
OH, CAN I HAVE AGUA?
AGUA?
SMALL?
SMALL.
THANK YOU.
Man: HERE.
HOW MUCH?
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
IT'S NO GOOD.
IT'S NO GOOD?
IT'S BAD.
WHAT ABOUT THAT ONE?
IT'S BAD.
IT'S NOT REAL MONEY?
NO. NO. IT'S NO GOOD.
YEAH, IT'S NOT REAL.
IT'S NOT REAL?
NOT REAL.
DID YOU TAKE A TAXI RIDE HERE?
I TOOK A TAXI. YEAH.
AND HE GAVE YOU THAT?
YEAH.
IF YOU TAKE A TAXI WITHOUT THE "RADIO TAXI" SIGN ON TOP,
THEY CHARGE YOU EXTRA -- LIKE, DOUBLE --
AND THEY GIVE YOU FAKE CHANGE.
SO, THIS IS WORTH NOTHING?
MM-HMM.
OH.
YEAH, THIS IS PAPER. LOOK. LOOK HOW PRINTED IT IS.
YEAH, YEAH. ALL RIGHT. OKAY.
THE CHANGE THAT I GOT FROM MY TAXI ISN'T REAL MONEY.
IT'S FAKE MONEY PRINTED ON ORDINARY PAPER.
IT'S WORTH NOTHING.
THERE WAS ME THINKING I'D FOUND AN HONEST TAXI DRIVER.
I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER.
MY FIRST DAY IN BUENOS AIRES
AND I'VE ALREADY HAD COUNTERFEIT MONEY PAWNED OFF ON ME.
I'VE READ ABOUT THIS IN MY TOURIST GUIDEBOOK,
BUT I DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD BE SO PREVALENT.
I NEED SOMEONE TO GIVE ME THE LOWDOWN ON THIS CITY.
WELL, I'M GOING TO MEET --
WELL, ACTUALLY, I CAN'T REVEAL HIS NAME,
'CAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT HIS IDENTITY REVEALED,
BUT I CAN SAY HE'S A SENIOR OFFICER
IN THE BUENOS AIRES POLICE FORCE.
ALL I'VE BEEN TOLD IS TO WAIT FOR HIM
OUTSIDE A BAR DOWN HERE.
HEY.
THANKS FOR COMING AND TALKING TO ME.
I'M HOPING YOU CAN TELL ME A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT SOME OF THE SCAMS THAT ARE GOING ON
HERE IN BUENOS AIRES,
ESPECIALLY THE KIND OF THINGS THAT AFFECT TOURISTS
AND VISITORS TO THE CITY.
ARE THE COUNTERFEITERS LONE WOLVES,
OR ARE THEY PART OF A LARGER, ORGANIZED UNDERGROUND ECONOMY?
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE ME IF I WANT TO MEET
SOME OF THE PEOPLE BEHIND THESE COUNTERFEITING SCAMS?
SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF "THE GODFATHER."
I JUST HOPE I DON'T FIND A HORSE'S HEAD
IN BED WITH ME TOMORROW.
WELL, THAT WAS A FAIRLY UNEQUIVOCAL WARNING
ABOUT THE KIND OF PEOPLE THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH
AND HOW DANGEROUS THEY MIGHT BE.
I MEAN, I WAS ASKING HIM FOR SOME ADVICE.
I THOUGHT I MIGHT GET SOMETHING A BIT MORE CONSTRUCTIVE THAN,
"THEY'LL SHOOT YOU AND CUT YOU INTO LITTLE PIECES."
I MEAN, THAT'S A WARNING, RIGHT?
THAT'S DEFINITELY A WARNING.
Woodman: LAST NIGHT, I DIDN'T SLEEP WELL.
I HAD NIGHTMARES ABOUT BIN BAGS.
FROM THE SAFETY OF MY HOTEL ROOM,
I CAN TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE COUNTERFEIT BILLS
GIVEN TO ME BY MY TAXI DRIVER YESTERDAY.
SOME OF THEM ARE PRETTY OBVIOUS.
I MEAN, THE PAPER'S NOT THE RIGHT COLOR.
YOU SEE, IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT TOO WHITE,
AND THE IMAGE LOOKS A BIT TOO CLEAR.
SOME OF THEM, YOU CAN SEE THE METAL STRIP
IS NOT A REAL METAL STRIP.
IT'S JUST BEEN PAINTED ON.
BUT SOME OF THEM -- VERY, VERY GOOD, INDEED.
I MEAN, TAKE THIS ONE, FOR EXAMPLE.
I MEAN, THIS IS INCREDIBLE. PAPER FEELS THE SAME.
THE COLOR'S THE SAME.
IT'S GOT THE REAL METAL STRIP.
THE METAL STRIP'S EVEN GOT THE SAME WRITING
EMBEDDED IN IT THAT THE REAL ONE HAS.
IT'S ONLY REALLY WHEN I LOOK AT THE WATERMARK INSIDE,
THOUGH, I CAN SEE IT'S OUT BY ABOUT HALF A CENTIMETER,
AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY I WOULD KNOW THAT'S A FAKE,
AND WHOEVER MADE THAT REALLY KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
IF COUNTERFEIT BILLS OF THIS QUALITY
ARE GETTING INTO THE HANDS OF TOURISTS,
THEN THEY DON'T STAND A CHANCE.
THEY'RE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DETECT
UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
WITH AROUND 50,000 TAXIS OPERATING
THROUGHOUT BUENOS AIRES,
THIS COULD BE A RACKET THAT RUNS INTO THE MILLIONS.
BUT WHERE DO THE CROOKED TAXI DRIVERS
GET THE FAKE BILLS FROM?
IT'S TIME TO GO BACK IN UNDERCOVER.
I'M GONNA FILM THIS TIME WITH A SECRET BUTTON CAM,
AND NATISHA HERE IS GONNA BE FILMING
WITH A CAMERA INSIDE THIS LITTLE CLUTCH BAG.
I REALLY WANT TO CATCH ONE IN THE ACT.
HAILING A TAXI ISN'T HARD IN THIS CITY.
FINDING A DODGY TAXI DRIVER
REQUIRES A BIT MORE PATIENCE --
BUT NOT MUCH.
THE TAXI DRIVERS IN BUENOS AIRES
HAVE GOT MORE THAN A FEW TRICKS UP THEIR SLEEVE,
SO I'VE GOT ONE UP MINE, TOO.
I'VE TAKEN PICTURES OF THE SERIAL NUMBERS
ON THE BILLS THAT I'M ABOUT TO HAND OVER.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
HOW MUCH?
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
90. OKAY.
HERE'S 100.
LET ME -- WHAT?
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
Natisha: IS HE SAYING IT'S FAKE?
THAT IS FAKE. YEAH.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE NOTE I GAVE YOU.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
THAT'S NOT --
THAT'S NOT THE NOTE I GAVE YOU.
LOOK. LOOK. JUST BEFORE I GAVE YOU THAT NOTE...
THAT'S THE NOTE I GAVE YOU. THAT'S THE NOTE.
"99K," THAT ONE ENDS.
99K.
NO, NO.
LET ME SEE IN YOUR WALLET. LET ME SEE IN YOUR WALLET.
LET ME SEE. LET'S HAVE A LOOK.
LET'S HAVE A LOOK IN YOUR WALLET.
LET'S HAVE A LOOK IN YOUR WALLET
AND SEE IF THAT NOTE IS IN YOUR WALLET.
LET'S SEE IF THAT'S IT.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
YEAH.
YEAH.
AH, NO, NO.
LET'S HAVE A LOOK.
LET'S HAVE A LOOK IN YOUR WALLET. LET'S HAVE A LOOK.
NO PROBLEM. NO PROBLEM. LET'S SEE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO --
WE DON'T HAVE TO INVOLVE THE POLICE.
LET'S JUST SEE. LET'S SEE.
LET'S SEE IN YOUR WALLET. COME ON.
COME ON. YOU'VE GOT NOTHING TO HIDE.
LET ME SEE. LET ME SEE THIS ONE.
LET ME SEE THIS ONE.
SO, WHAT? THIS ONE'S A FAKE ONE.
DO YOU DO THE SWITCH?
AND THEN I HAVE TO GIVE YOU ANOTHER REAL ONE, AND THEN...
UH-HUH. WHERE'D YOU GET THE FALSE NOTES FROM?
SO, HOW MUCH -- WHAT'S THE DISCOUNT?
SO, 50. SO, YOU BUY HUNDREDS WITH 50s?
40 OR 50%.
RIGHT.
AND HOW MANY OF THOSE FALSE ONES CAN YOU GET RID OF?
A DAY?!
IS IT ALWAYS TOURISTS?
HMM. ALL RIGHT. OKAY.
IT'S FUNNY, 'CAUSE NOW THAT YOU'VE RIPPED ME OFF,
NOW I TRUST YOU. [ LAUGHS ]
IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS,
BUT I GOT MY TAXI DRIVER IN THE END,
AND, LUCKILY, IT DIDN'T TURN NASTY.
FROM WHAT HE SAID, HE HAS THE POTENTIAL
TO MAKE A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR
THROUGH PASSING OFF FAKE BILLS TO TOURISTS.
BUT WHAT IF IT'S NOT JUST A TAXI SCAM?
COULD THE WHOLE CITY BE AWASH WITH COUNTERFEIT MONEY?
I FEEL MY LUCK'S IN TODAY,
SO LET'S SEE IF I CAN'T GET SOMEONE ELSE TO RIP ME OFF.
HEY. HEY.
GRACIAS.
GRACIAS.
IS THAT A REAL ONE?
THIS LOOKS LIKE A...
THAT'S A FAKE ONE, ISN'T IT?
FALSO?
IT'S NORMAL?
Sí. NORMAL.
OKAY.
THESE ARE GOOD ONES?
[ LAUGHS ] OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
GRACIAS.
THAT GUY'S PRETTY NONCHALANT.
HE DIDN'T EVEN BLINK AN EYE.
THIS FAKE MONEY IS EVERYWHERE I TURN.
TOURISTS ARE BEING CONNED WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING IT.
IT'S DEFINITELY NO SMALL-TIME OPERATION.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST FAKE MONEY
THAT VISITORS SHOULD BE AWARE OF.
REPUTATION HAS IT THAT HERE,
PICKPOCKETING HAS BEEN RAISED TO A FINE ART.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THEIR TECHNIQUES
SHOWS JUST HOW BRAZEN THEY ARE.
I WAS GONNA SAY, IT'S DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT,
BUT IT'S NOT, IS IT?
HE'S GONNA PUT HIS HANDS STRAIGHT IN THAT GUY'S BAG.
I KEEP WATCHING SOME OF THESE AND THINKING,
"WHAT JUST HAPPENED?"
I MEAN, THEY'RE STRAIGHT IN THERE,
AND THEY'RE SO BRAZEN
AND THEY'RE SO QUICK.
THEY DRAPE SOMETHING OVER THEIR ARM
SO THAT YOU CAN'T SEE WHAT THE HAND IS DOING UNDERNEATH IT.
IF WE'RE GOING TO CATCH A PICKPOCKET ON CAMERA,
MY CREW ARE GONNA HAVE TO BE ON TOP FORM.
THEY'RE OUT THERE, AND THEY CAN BE FILMED.
ONE NOTORIOUS GANG ARE KNOWN TO WORK
THE UNDERGROUND TRAIN NETWORK,
AND THAT'S WHERE I HOPE TO CATCH THEM IN THE ACT.
WITH MY WALLET PEEKING OUT OF MY BACK POCKET FOR ALL TO SEE,
I'M USING MYSELF AS BAIT.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
EITHER EVERYONE IS BLIND, OR I WAS RIDING
WITH ALL THE HONEST PEOPLE OF BUENOS AIRES.
WELL, IT'S HOT AND SWEATY AND CROWDED DOWN THERE --
THE PERFECT CONDITIONS, YOU'D THINK, FOR PICKPOCKETS.
BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, I WASN'T ABLE TO DRAW ONE OUT TODAY.
Woodman: NIGHT FALLS, AND I'M BACK ON THE COUNTERFEIT MONEY TRAIL.
I HAVE A RATHER UNUSUAL APPOINTMENT.
THE UNDERCOVER COP HAS PUT ME IN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE
WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP ME GET CLOSER
TO THE CRIMINALS AT THE HEART OF THIS SCAM.
I'M GONNA GO AND MEET ONE OF THE KEY LINKS
IN THE COUNTERFEIT-MONEY CHAIN HERE.
THIS GUY, I'M TOLD, IS ONE OF THE MAIN DISTRIBUTORS
OF COUNTERFEIT MONEY ON THE STREETS OF BUENOS AIRES.
THE MEET IS IN A PUBLIC PLACE, JUST IN CASE THINGS GO WRONG.
THE CREW HAVE MY BACK, BUT WE'RE ALL FEELING UNEASY.
I WANT THIS MEETING TO BE SHORT AND SWEET,
BUT I NEED SOME ANSWERS.
HEY.
FERNANDO?
FERNANDO.
YEAH. CONOR.
OKAY.
THANKS FOR SEEING ME. SHOULD WE MOVE AWAY FROM THE POLICE?
OKAY. Sí.
SO, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, YOUR BUSINESS
IS TO DISTRIBUTE COUNTERFEIT MONEY ON THE STREETS.
IS THAT RIGHT?
SO, EXPLAIN TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THAT WORKS.
WHERE DO YOU IT BUY FROM? WHERE DO YOU SELL IT TO?
SO, YOU ACTUALLY BUY THE MONEY FROM THE POLICE?
YES.
OH. OKAY.
THAT'S SURPRISING FOR ME,
THAT THE POLICE ARE INVOLVED IN THIS.
WHERE DO YOU DISTRIBUTE THE MONEY TO?
OKAY.
OKAY.
SO, I WAS RIGHT.
WHERE THERE'S TOURISTS, THERE'S COUNTERFEIT MONEY,
AND AS FOR THE POLICE SUPPLYING HIM,
WELL, IN THIS CITY, WHO KNOWS?
WHO MAKES THE MONEY?
I MEAN, WHERE DO THE POLICE GET IT FROM?
WHO ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTUALLY PRODUCING
THE MONEY IN THE FIRST PLACE?
"THE ARTIST."
THE ARTIST. Sí.
[ LAUGHS ] AND DOES "THE ARTIST" HAVE A NAME?
NO.
JUST "THE ARTIST."
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GRACIAS.
OKAY. SEE YOU. ADIóS.
YEAH, HE'S OBVIOUSLY ONE OF A NUMBER OF MIDDLEMEN
WHO ARE PASSING MONEY OUT ONTO THE STREETS
AND MAKING PRETTY GOOD MONEY FOR HIMSELF.
I MEAN, FROM WHAT HE SAYS, HE COULD MAKE
A COUPLE OF THOUSAND U.S. DOLLARS IN A GOOD WEEK.
BUT THERE'S OBVIOUSLY SOMEONE AT THE TOP OF THE TREE
WHO'S MAKING A LOT MORE MONEY --
THE PERSON THAT'S ACTUALLY PRODUCING IT.
INTERESTINGLY, HE WOULDN'T REVEAL
WHAT THAT PERSON'S NAME IS
OTHER THAN TO SAY HE'S KNOWN AS "THE ARTIST."
THAT'S THE PERSON I'VE GOT TO FIND.
LA BOCA -- ONE OF BUENOS AIRES' MAIN TOURIST DRAGS,
FAMED FOR ITS CAFé CULTURE, JUICY STEAKS,
AND TANGO DANCING.
AWAY FROM THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF THE CITY,
THIS IS WHERE EVEN THE MOST SEASONED OF TRAVELERS
COULD EASILY DROP THEIR GUARD.
Woman: HOLA.
HOLA.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
YEAH.
OKAY. GRACIAS.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
NO. IT'S COOL.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
SORRY. HANG ON A SECOND.
EXCUSE ME. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
I THINK...
EXCUSE ME.
ARE YOU WITH THAT GUY?
HUH?
YEAH, NO. MY WALLET'S JUST GONE.
OKAY, LOOK. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEM, OKAY?
ALL I AM IS INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
NOW, YOU BUMPED INTO ME IN THE STREET QUITE DELIBERATELY,
AND AT THE SAME TIME, THAT GUY TOOK MY WALLET,
SO FORGIVE ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE
YOU TWO GUYS ARE PROBABLY WORKING TOGETHER.
FINALLY, I TRACK DOWN THE MAN WHO STOLE MY WALLET.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS BUY YOU A --
LISTEN, LISTEN -- THIS GUY BUMPED INTO ME,
AND YOU TOOK MY WALLET.
AFTER PERSISTENT DENIALS,
THE PICKPOCKET EVENTUALLY AGREES TO TALK TO ME.
OKAY.
IS THAT THE WAY THAT YOU ALWAYS WORK?
YOU ALWAYS WORK TOGETHER WITH SOMEBODY ELSE?
DOES ONE PERSON CAUSE A DISTRACTION,
AND THEN YOU GO IN AND TAKE THE WALLET?
WHEN YOU TOOK MY WALLET,
MY HEART WAS GOING, "BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM,"
AND I WAS THINKING, "OH, HANG ON! WHAT'S GOING ON?"
THAT'S ONE OF YOUR TECHNIQUES?
Natisha: YES. DISTRACT.
SO, IT'S DISTRACTION -- CAUSE A DISTRACTION.
NOT PAY ATTENTION TO ANYTHING.
SO, YOU TARGET -- YOU WATCH THE PEOPLE, AND THEN YOU TARGET
THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOTS OF MONEY IN THEIR WALLETS.
16,000? THAT'S $4,000 U.S.
$4,000 U.S. IN A WEEKEND. THAT MAKES YOU A PRETTY RICH GUY.
[ CHUCKLES ]
OKAY. THANK YOU. WE CAN --
AH, YES.
YEAH, THAT'S MINE.
ONE THING IS CERTAIN --
THERE'S CLEARLY A LOT OF MONEY TO BE MADE OFF TOURISTS,
AND NOT BY SELLING SOUVENIRS.
Woodman: ANOTHER MEETING WITH A COMPLETE STRANGER.
THE COUNTERFEIT-MONEY DISTRIBUTOR
WOULDN'T REVEAL THE IDENTITY OF "THE ARTIST"
BUT HAS ARRANGED FOR ME TO MEET SOMEONE WHO WORKS FOR HIM.
ONE STEP FURTHER UP THE CHAIN
AND MAYBE ONE STEP CLOSER
TO PEOPLE WHO MIGHT CHOP ME UP AND PUT ME IN A BIN BAG.
IT'S NOT DOING MY NERVES A LOT OF GOOD.
EVENTUALLY, I GET A CALL.
THE MEETING IS OFF.
I'M GOING TO NEED A LUCKY BREAK, OR THIS MIGHT BE AS FAR
AS THE COUNTERFEIT-MONEY TRAIL GOES.
I'M STAYING IN AN UPMARKET PART OF THE CITY,
WHERE THE SWANKY HOTELS ARE.
THE BARS THERE ARE FILLED WITH RICH TOURISTS,
ESPECIALLY GUYS TRAVELING ON THEIR OWN.
THEY'RE ALSO KNOWN TO ATTRACT A CERTAIN TYPE OF CON ARTIST
KNOWN AS THE BLACK WIDOW.
[ PIANO PLAYS ]
THANK YOU. CHEERS.
AFTER TWO HOURS AND THREE MARTINIS,
I'M BEGINNING TO FEEL A BIT WOOZY.
JUST AS I'M ABOUT TO CALL IT A NIGHT...
ANNABELLA, HI.
CONOR. HOW ARE YOU?
Annabella: NO, ARE YOU ALONE?
YES. YES, I'M ALONE. YES. YES.
AND YOU? ALONE, OR YOU HAVE FRIENDS?
NO, NO, I AM ALONE.
HOW OLD ARE YOU?
22? OKAY.
AND YOU?
37.
YOU?
COULD THIS BE THE BLACK-WIDOW SCAM
THE UNDERCOVER COP TOLD ME ABOUT?
YOUNG WOMEN PREY ON OLDER MEN,
GET THEM BACK TO THEIR ROOM, DRUG THEM, AND ROB THEM.
BUT IF I HAVE ANOTHER MARTINI,
SHE'S NOT GOING TO NEED ANY DRUGS.
EL BAÑO. ME. BAÑO.
AND I'LL COME BACK.
OKAY.
OKAY?
OKAY.
YOU WAIT HERE? YOU WAIT HERE.
YEAH.
YEAH, OKAY.
EXCUSE ME.
I SIGNAL TO THE CREW TO MEET ME IN THE TOILET.
ORDINARILY, I WOULD RUN A MILE FROM THIS SITUATION,
BUT IF IT IS A BLACK WIDOW, I WANT TO SEE WHAT SHE DOES
AND I WANT TO SEE HOW SHE DOES IT.
I'M SETTING MY OWN TRAP,
RIGGING THE HOTEL ROOM WITH HIDDEN CAMERAS.
SO, IF I KEEP HER CHATTING NOW
FOR ANOTHER FIVE MINUTES OR SO...
FIVE MINUTES. THEN GO UP.
YEAH.
THEY'LL BE ALREADY READY.
OH. YOU OKAY?
WELL..
I'LL MAKE MORE SMALL TALK WHILE THE CREW PREPARE.
YOU LIKE?
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
FIVE MINUTES LATER, AND I GET THE SIGNAL.
EVERYTHING'S READY.
[ DOOR CLOSES ]
YOU LIKE SOME WINE?
YES.
PLEASE, SIT. SIT HERE.
MAKE YOURSELF COMFORTABLE.
YOU CAN SIT DOWN.
[ CORK POPS ]
THERE WE GO.
PERFECT.
OKAY. YES.
I LIKE.
SO, HERE.
CHEERS.
CHEERS.
CHEERS.
CHEERS.
CHEERS.
I'M JUST GONNA GO TO THE BATHROOM.
JUST BE ONE SECOND.
OKAY.
THE CREW OBSERVING FROM THE BALCONY TEXT ME
TO SAY THAT ANNABELLA HAS PUT SOMETHING IN MY WINE.
THERE GOES MY LAP DANCE.
SO...
VERY NICE.
VERY NICE? SO, WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
NOTHING.
WE DO THE SHOW?
CHEERS. CHEERS.
CHEERS?
CHEERS.
REALLY?
YES.
I DO THE CHEERS?
CHEERS.
AND WHAT HAPPENS IF I DRINK THIS?
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DRINK THIS?
YEAH? SO, YOU DON'T MIND IF WE SWAP?
NO.
CHEERS.
REALLY?
YES.
[ Laughing ] YOU DON'T WANT TO DRINK THAT ONE, DO YOU?
NO.
YOU DON'T WANT TO DRINK THAT ONE, DO YOU?
I THINK I KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
I THINK I KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
MAYBE I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS.
AND PLEASE DON'T BE WORRIED,
BUT I WOULD LIKE ALSO TO BRING IN A CAMERA,
BECAUSE I'M HERE MAKING A FILM IN BUENOS AIRES,
LOOKING AT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO TOURISTS HERE.
I GAIN ANNABELLA'S TRUST AND INVITE THE CREW IN.
MY TRANSLATOR EXPLAINS THAT WE'VE BEEN SECRETLY FILMING
SINCE SHE APPROACHED ME AT THE BAR
AND WE WANT TO KNOW HOW THIS SCAM WORKS.
SHE AGREES TO TALK TO US ON CAMERA.
YOU AND ME, YOU AND ME...
OKAY, OKAY, OKAY.
SO, TELL ME. WHAT'S IN THE DRINK?
TWO MINUTES, AND...
TWO MINUTES.
...GONE? OUT?
AND, PRESUMABLY, WHAT YOU WANT TO DO
ISN'T THE SHOW THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT.
AFTER THAT TWO MINUTES, WHEN I'M UNCONSCIOUS
AND I'M ASLEEP ON THE SOFA,
WHAT DO YOU DO?
HOW MUCH MONEY CAN YOU MAKE IN A NIGHT?
I HAD NO IDEA A SCAM LIKE THIS COULD BE SO LUCRATIVE.
THIS IS SERIOUS MONEY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WELL, THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT GIRL IS BEAUTIFUL
AND EXTREMELY LIKABLE,
BUT THERE'S SOMETHING VERY DARK ABOUT HER,
AND THE BLACK WIDOW, I THINK, SUMS HER UP REALLY WELL.
SHE SPINS THAT WEB, AND IF YOU GET CAUGHT IN IT,
WOE BETIDE YOU, 'CAUSE YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING,
AND EVERYTHING IS GONE.
I, FOR ONE, AM VERY PLEASED TO HAVE ESCAPED.
Woodman: IT'S BEEN A HECTIC FOUR DAYS IN BUENOS AIRES.
SINCE I ARRIVED, I'VE BEEN PICKPOCKETED IN BROAD DAYLIGHT,
NEARLY DRUGGED BY THE BLACK WIDOW,
AND GIVEN FAKE MONEY.
BUT I'M STILL NO CLOSER
TO FINDING THE MASTER COUNTERFEITER,
THE MAN KNOWN AS "THE ARTIST."
SO FAR, ALL MY LEADS HAVE BEEN TOO INTIMIDATED TO TALK.
BUT WORD HAS CLEARLY GOT OUT ON THE STREET THAT I'M LOOKING.
I'VE BEEN CONTACTED BY A GANG THAT CLAIMS TO WORK FOR HIM.
THEY'VE TOLD ME TO COME TO THEM AND TO COME ALONE.
THIS MEANS GETTING RID OF MY SECURITY.
FROM NOW ON, I'M ON MY OWN.
WITH POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CHARACTERS,
WE DON'T WANT TO UPSET THEM.
WE HAVE TO DO WHATEVER THEY SAY.
YEAH. OKAY.
SO, ENJOY YOUR NIGHT OFF.
HOPEFULLY, WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.
THE GANG HAVE REQUESTED I MEET THEM AT MIDNIGHT
AT A REMOTE LOCATION AN HOUR'S DRIVE FROM THE CITY.
I'VE BEEN TOLD THEY MIGHT BE PACKING WEAPONS.
COULD THIS BE MY BIN-BAG MOMENT?
HEY. CONOR.
[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]
GUNS, FAKE BILLS, AND HORROR MASKS.
THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE EASY.
SO, I CAN'T HELP NOTICING THERE'S A LOT MONEY
HERE ON THE TABLE.
IS THIS REAL MONEY?
NO. DID YOU MAKE IT?
DO YOU MIND IF I LOOK?
[ GUN *** ]
Natisha: NO?
NO?
SO, I'M INTERESTED IN KNOWING A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF COUNTERFEITING MONEY.
MAYBE YOU CAN EXPLAIN TO ME A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT YOU DO.
WHERE DO YOU GET THE MACHINES FROM?
HOW MUCH MONEY IN, SAY, A WEEK
COULD YOU MAKE ON YOUR MACHINES?
I DON'T KNOW -- I MEAN, COULD YOU MAKE...
100,000 PESOS IN A WEEK?
SO...
THIS GUY'S COKED OFF HIS HEAD.
THIS COULD EASILY GO BAD, AND QUICKLY.
BUT I HAVE JUST A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS I NEED TO ASK.
[ SNIFFS ]
OH!
OKAY.
SO, WHERE IS THE MAIN SOURCE OF DANGER?
IS IT OTHER GANGS, OR IS IT THE POLICE?
IS YOUR BUSINESS REALLY DEPENDENT ON TOURISTS?
DOES A LOT OF THIS MONEY END UP IN THE HANDS OF TOURISTS?
IT MUST BE QUITE DIFFICULT TO DISTRIBUTE
THAT MUCH MONEY EVERY DAY.
WHO ARE YOUR MOST IMPORTANT CLIENTS, THEN?
IN TERMS OF DISTRIBUTION,
WHO ARE THE BEST PEOPLE FOR MOVING THE MONEY?
SO, IT'S NOT JUST STREET-MONEY CHANGES?
IT'S OFFICIAL BANKS, AS WELL?
IS THIS YOUR ONLY BUSINESS,
OR ARE YOU INVOLVED IN OTHER THINGS, AS WELL?
ON THAT CHEERFUL NOTE, IT'S DEFINITELY TIME TO LEAVE.
THEY WERE SOME SHADY GANGSTERS, AND THEY MEANT BUSINESS.
I'VE COME A LONG WAY SINCE BEING DONE OVER
FOR A FEW FAKE BILLS BY A TAXI DRIVER.
THE DEEPER I DIG, THE MORE DANGEROUS IT GETS.
Woodman: LAST NIGHT WAS PRETTY INTENSE.
MAYBE I'M FORTUNATE TO STILL BE WALKING AROUND.
I'VE NOW LEARNED FIRSTHAND
WHERE THESE COUNTERFEIT BILLS ARE MADE
AND HOW THEY END UP IN THE HANDS OF TOURISTS.
BUT I STILL HAVEN'T FOUND "THE ARTIST."
I'M RUNNING DOWN ONE FINAL LEAD.
I'M OFF TO MEET A MAN WHO HEADS UP ONE OF THE BIGGEST
PRIVATE INVESTIGATION COMPANIES IN SOUTH AMERICA.
JUAN CARLOS IS AN EX-POLICE OFFICER
WHO NOW SPECIALIZES IN COUNTERFEITING
AND IS TAPPED IN TO THE INNER WORKINGS OF THIS SCAM
AT ALL LEVELS.
IF ANYONE IS GOING TO TELL ME
WHERE TO FIND "THE ARTIST," IT'S HIM.
JUAN CARLOS HAS SET UP A MEETING FOR ME
WITH HECTOR FERNANDEZ, "THE ARTIST" HIMSELF --
A TRICKY CALL.
AFTER MEETING THE GANG,
I'M ANXIOUS ABOUT TAKING THIS INVESTIGATION ANY FURTHER,
BUT I NEED TO CONFRONT THE MAN WHO'S RIPPED OFF MORE TOURISTS
THAN ANY SCAMMER I'VE COME ACROSS.
IT'S TIME TO PUT THE FINAL PIECE OF THIS PUZZLE IN PLACE.
I'M OFF TO MEET "LA ARTISTA," OR "THE ARTIST,"
AND ALTHOUGH EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT HOW CREATIVE HE IS
AND HOW BRILLIANT HE IS AT MAKING FAKE MONEY,
I HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THIS GUY'S A CAREER CRIMINAL.
HE'S BEEN TO PRISON FIVE TIMES.
NOW, HE MIGHT NOT WANT TO TALK TO ME TOO MUCH
ABOUT WHAT HE'S UP TO NOW, BUT I REALLY WANT TO KNOW
MORE ABOUT HIS OPERATION AND EXACTLY HOW IT WORKS.
WHAT A RELIEF -- NO GUNS, NO DRUGS,
AND NO GANGSTERS WEARING SCARY MASKS.
IN FACT, IT'S ALL RATHER PLEASANT.
I'VE MET SOME PEOPLE WHO DISTRIBUTE
SOME FAKE MONEY ON THE STREETS,
AND THEY SAY "THE ARTIST,"
WHICH IS YOU,
IS THE BEST
AND THAT THE BEST NOTES ON THE STREET
MUST HAVE BEEN MADE BY YOU.
WHY IS THERE SO MUCH COUNTERFEIT MONEY HERE IN ARGENTINA?
WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS PLACE
THAT MAKES IT SO RIPE FOR COUNTERFEIT?
'CAUSE I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYWHERE LIKE IT.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYWHERE
WHERE THERE'S SO MUCH COUNTERFEIT MONEY.
SO, IT'S PARTICULARLY EASY IN ARGENTINA WHY?
'CAUSE THE MONEY'S EASY TO COPY?
OR WHAT IS IT THAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT ARGENTINA?
AND WHAT ABOUT, SAY,
THE TOURISTS WHO COME TO ARGENTINA?
BECAUSE PEOPLE MIGHT SAY THAT THE MONEY THAT YOU MAKE
ENDS UP ON THE STREETS,
AND I COME TO ARGENTINA AS A VISITOR,
AND I EXCHANGE SOME MONEY,
AND THEN I REALIZE I'VE GOT COUNTERFEIT MONEY
AND EFFECTIVELY LOST THAT MONEY, 'CAUSE IT'S NOT REAL.
THAT'S QUITE INTERESTING.
SO, THE WAY YOU SEE IT, YOU DO YOUR JOB,
AND YOU DON'T THINK OF THE CONSEQUENCES
OF WHAT HAPPENS FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD.
YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT
WHO THE ULTIMATE VICTIM OF THIS CRIME THAT YOU DO IS.
HOW HAS ALL THIS AFFECTED YOU?
YOU'VE BEEN TO PRISON FIVE TIMES.
THAT MUST HAVE AFFECTED YOUR PERSONAL LIFE.
HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU THINK YOU'VE MADE IN YOUR LIFE?
WHAT'S THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY
YOU THINK YOU'VE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR
THAT'S NOW OUT THERE ON THE STREETS?
AND OF THAT 10 MILLION THAT YOU'VE MADE,
HOW MUCH OF IT HAVE YOU MADE FOR YOURSELF?
BUT DO YOU THINK YOU'VE BECOME A BIT OF A MYTH,
YOU'VE BECOME A HERO ON THE STREETS?
THE LEGEND OF "THE ARTIST"?
IT'S A KIND OF FAME, I SUPPOSE.
NOTORIETY, MAYBE.
WELL, HE WAS HARDLY THE HARDENED CRIMINAL I WAS EXPECTING --
MORE THIS KIND OF SWEET OLD MAN.
BUT HE'S SO COMPELLED TO DO WHAT HE DOES
THAT IT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO HIM THAN EVEN HIS WIFE.
I HAVE TO SAY THAT MAKING $10 MILLION DURING YOUR CAREER
MAKES YOU A BIG-TIME SCAMMER.
BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE HE'S SPENT IT ALL.
HAS HE?
SINCE FILMING THIS SERIES,
THE POLICE LAUNCHED A MAJOR UNDERCOVER OPERATION
IN BUENOS AIRES.
FOLLOWING RAIDS ACROSS THE CITY,
THEY SEIZED A CACHE OF HIGH-QUALITY FAKE $100 BILLS
WORTH ALMOST HALF A MILLION,
COUNTERFEITING MACHINERY, AND A 9mm HANDGUN.
PERHAPS NOT SURPRISINGLY,
EVERYTHING WAS ALLEGEDLY TRACED BACK TO "THE ARTIST,"
HECTOR FERNANDEZ.
HECTOR AND HIS GANG HAVE BEEN CHARGED
AND ARE CURRENTLY AWAITING TRIAL.
EVERY CASH TRANSACTION THAT IS MADE HERE
HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE PART OF THE SCAM.
IT'S A MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR INDUSTRY.
PRODUCTION IS CONTROLLED BY ARMED GANGS
AND THE DISTRIBUTION CARRIED OUT BY CRIMINALS.
MOST LOCALS HAVE LEARNED HOW TO SPOT THE FAKE NOTES,
BUT FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME, NEW TO BUENOS AIRES,
WE'RE EASILY CONNED.
THIS IS A HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED
AND SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE SCAM TO BREAK
AS LONG AS THERE ARE UNKNOWING VICTIMS
AND EASILY FALSIFIABLE BILLS.
BUT MAYBE TAKING DOWN "THE ARTIST,"
ONE OF THE CITY'S MOST PROLIFIC COUNTERFEITERS,
IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.