In Rio de Janeiro lashed on a series of attacks accomplished by gangsters, operating as taxi drivers. According to the police investigating these crimes, there were so-called "pirate" taxis with the "clone" number plates which are difficult to be distinguished from the official ones coming on the line. Under the victims’ stories, in some minutes after getting in such a taxi the victim is driven in favela (the city slum) or other deserted place where the robbery is committed. After some unconfirmed data, over the last two months "the gang of taxi drivers" has murdered two people.

The danger can be concealed in any of 5 thousand taxis operating in the city without the corresponding license, say the representatives of police. City authorities appeal to the inhabitants of Rio de Janeiro and tourists for prudence and vigilance and warn against using services of the "fake" taxi drivers. At the same time they could not explain distinctly how the can a passenger distinguish a "fake" taxi from the real one, as, parallel with "cloning" of number plates, the criminals make also forged licenses.

It should pointed out, that in Brazil the urban transport is quite well developed. Buses are generally quite old and not so comfortable, drive with a speed not exceeding 60 km/hour. The underground is in Rio de Janeiro, Recife and the Sao Paulo. Extension of the tube is rather slender, but it is sufficiently modern and clean. And a taxi for your own safety you can order with the help of the hotel porter or on your own by phone (taxis equipped with radio are a bit more expensive). In the light of the later events you should not hail taxis right in the streets.

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About the Author: Iuri Tarabanov writes about interesting travel experiences. His Travel Deals site is http://www.travelime.com