- 2 days ago
Scam City S02E05 Israel-Jerusalem
Category
🦄
CreativityTranscript
00:00They're the world's greatest cities, famous for their culture and beauty.
00:06But there's something else waiting in the shadows.
00:09The scammers, the hustlers, the thieves.
00:13And they're all looking for tourists to con.
00:16State against the what? Russian roulette. Are you joking me?
00:19I'm Connor Woodman, and in Scam City, I set myself up as bait.
00:24This is like being kidnapped.
00:26A willing victim to be fleeced.
00:28I'll catch the scammers in the act.
00:30You know where my wallet is. I know, yeah.
00:32And reveal the tricks of the trade.
00:34Sorry, I'm not talking about that.
00:35Because why? It's too dangerous?
00:37And I'll expose them face to face.
00:40We are filming you scamming me.
00:42Scam City. I get scammed, so you don't have to.
01:00I'm in Mumbai, India's biggest city.
01:04It's the country's business and entertainment capital, and home to the renowned Bollywood film industry.
01:13There's big money here, and lots of tourists.
01:16It's a perfect breeding ground for scammers.
01:22But I've got a problem.
01:24My apartment has been gate-crashed.
01:29What do we have to do to make this go away, Tony?
01:36It's all getting a bit out of hand.
01:41OK, OK, OK, OK, OK, go, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, come on.
01:43OK, OK, OK, OK, OK, OK, OK, OK, OK, OK, OK, OK, OK, OK, OK, OK, OK, OK.
01:52Arriving at Mumbai airport, there's no time to waste.
01:55The crew have told me the scams here can start from the moment you get off the plane.
02:00They've identified a gang of dodgy cab drivers, and I'll be filming on my own hidden camera.
02:07The crew are outside, rigged up with cameras,
02:10so we should be in a good position to capture anything untoward.
02:14In the arrivals hall, I immediately spot George, our director.
02:18How you doing, man?
02:19He'll pose as my tourist buddy and be secretly filming too.
02:26Paxi, OK, we want to go to the Strand Hotel.
02:30Do you know where that is?
02:31Yeah? OK.
02:36We do something seasoned travellers never do.
02:39Take the most insistent driver.
02:42Strand Hotel, my friend.
02:44My friend, my hotel.
02:45Strand Hotel.
02:46Yeah.
02:49I'm told this journey should take less than an hour,
02:52which is a relief since I've just got off a 10-hour flight,
02:55it's boiling hot, and there's no air con.
03:00We haven't gone very far when, without me asking him to,
03:03the driver pulls over.
03:05Hi, sir, welcome to India. Good morning, sir.
03:07Oh, hello, sir.
03:11What are you after, mate?
03:12Yeah, sir.
03:12You're getting a ride with us.
03:14Thank you, sir.
03:16I've got no idea who this man is.
03:18Perhaps he wants to share the taxi fare.
03:21You're first time coming in India, sir?
03:23First time coming in India? Yeah.
03:24OK, so, sir, this is the RTO form.
03:28Sorry, what's this?
03:29RTO form.
03:30You want to fill up.
03:31RTO, sir?
03:32Road Transport Corporation.
03:34What form?
03:35You are coming in first time in India.
03:37OK.
03:38So you fill up this form and we'll give to RTO officer.
03:42So I have to fill in a form just to drive in a taxi?
03:44Yes.
03:45Do you have a job title?
03:47Yeah.
03:47What is it?
03:48I am the travel agent.
03:49OK, right.
03:51One of the actors, Brad Pitt, Angelina, Brad Pitt.
03:54They are coming.
03:55I am giving hotel.
03:57So you're Brad Pitt's travel agent?
03:58Yeah, yeah, yeah.
03:59What's he like?
04:00Very good, man.
04:01Very good.
04:02You like him?
04:02Very good.
04:03If you want to go to hotel, I have some hotels.
04:07Hold on.
04:07I've already booked this hotel.
04:09OK.
04:10Is he quite clear we're going to the Strand Hotel?
04:13Because I wasn't sure about his English before.
04:15All roads are blocked.
04:17So we are going another road.
04:19Oh, he knows a different way.
04:21It's a different way, but a good way.
04:25So, sir, what are you feeling?
04:28I'm feeling a bit confused as to who you are.
04:30Why, sir?
04:31Why you are confused?
04:32I am with you.
04:33Always I am with you, sir.
04:35I know you're with me.
04:36Don't worry, sir.
04:36Don't worry.
04:37That's why I'm confused.
04:38Don't worry, sir.
04:38You are giving me some tips, sir.
04:41What for?
04:42You are giving me some tips, sir.
04:43Yes, sir.
04:44What am I giving you a tip for?
04:47I've got no idea this boat is.
04:48It's going in my taxi.
04:50It made me fill out a form that's clearly not an official form.
04:54You know, it's a tip.
04:57One thing is clear.
04:59Form or no form, he wants my cash.
05:01Sir, sir, this is the RTO forms of money you give me, sir.
05:06$11,236.
05:07But do I not give this to the road traffic officer directly?
05:10Where you found traffic officer?
05:12If I don't know where he is and he's not going to take money from me, why do I need
05:15to care?
05:16If you don't give me, myself paying.
05:19Why are you paying?
05:20Because I am the travel agent.
05:21But you're not my travel agent.
05:23Where are we now?
05:24We are going to the hotel.
05:26This doesn't look like where my hotel is.
05:29Very good road.
05:31Very good road.
05:32It doesn't look like a good road.
05:33It's like the back of beyond.
05:36Who are these dudes?
05:38What is this?
05:39We make another unexpected stop, this time a roadblock.
05:44The travel agent gets out to investigate.
05:47Sir, there is some problem.
05:50I am saying you are not going through this road.
05:53Why?
05:54Sir, this is the religious thing, sir.
05:56So we have to go back that way, then?
05:58Sir, we are not going through this side.
06:00No, this is one way.
06:03This is a taxi ride from hell.
06:05Or to hell.
06:07This is the main point.
06:08Can we come through?
06:10No.
06:10No, no.
06:11Well done.
06:13Sir, if you want to go, he's saying,
06:16you pay 51,000 rupees, then you go.
06:1951,000 rupees?
06:20It's like $1,000 to go through there.
06:23No, sir.
06:24This is the thing.
06:27I'm sure there's plenty of genuine religious practice in India,
06:30but I'm a little skeptical about this.
06:35Meanwhile, the travel agent seems to be practicing his Bollywood dance routines.
06:39What's he doing now?
06:41He's dancing around.
06:54What's he doing?
06:55Pay money and, sir, we will go hotel.
06:56This is like being kidnapped.
06:58Oh, sir, I am with you.
06:59Why you are kidnapped?
07:00Because you're holding me here in this car,
07:02and now you're trying to extort $1,000 out of me to get me through here.
07:06Please pay.
07:06Oh, what?
07:07What are you going to do?
07:08Are you going to harm me?
07:08Are you going to injure me?
07:09Sir, please pay.
07:10No, we are going, sir.
07:11It's very hot.
07:13Yeah, my head is as well.
07:14My head is sitting, sir.
07:17I'm not going to give you $1,200.
07:19What are you talking about?
07:20You don't know me.
07:21For what?
07:22What am I getting?
07:23This is a kidnap, and I'm haggling with you over the price of my ransom.
07:27No, no, you're not kidnapped, sir.
07:29I have the travel agent, sir.
07:31This is ridiculous.
07:32This is a ridiculous situation.
07:34I'll tell you what, 40 pounds.
07:36They asked for $1,200.
07:39I give them 40 pounds, $60.
07:42Oh, my God, it's so hot.
07:43I'm hot, I'm tired, I'm in the middle of God knows where,
07:47and I'm desperate to get to my hotel.
07:56Oh, look at that.
07:57The religious festival just ends.
07:59Hello, Bob, Bob, Bob.
08:02We are going to the highway in two minutes.
08:08I've now been in this taxi for almost two hours,
08:11and I think I know why we're getting nowhere fast.
08:18And I'm starting to question you.
08:23Sir, no question.
08:24If you have any problem, this problem is my problem.
08:27My problem is just you.
08:29You're my problem.
08:31You're my problem.
08:32No, sir, why?
08:32I was fine until I met you.
08:34No, sir, I'm taking not a single rupee from you.
08:37If you want to give me some tip.
08:39What on earth would I give you a tip for?
08:42Because, sir, I am your guide, sir.
08:44You're my guide to what?
08:45The highway?
08:47You're the worst guide ever.
08:50Sir, let's see.
08:52Maybe he's taken my criticism to heart,
08:55because all of a sudden he slips into tour guide mode.
09:00What?
09:01What?
09:06What are you showing me?
09:07What are you pointing at?
09:11No, that's not a view.
09:13Are you out of your mind?
09:16Oh, don't start crying.
09:18Oh, my God.
09:24You have lots of problems.
09:26I can see that.
09:29The taxi ride is endless.
09:32So nearly two and a half hours.
09:36Which feels even longer when you're roasting in 40 degree heat
09:40inside a vehicle with no air conditioning.
09:43And then we reach a hotel in the middle of nowhere.
09:48This is the Sui Palace.
09:50Yeah, but I asked for the Strand Hotel.
09:52This is your hotel, sir.
09:53It's obviously not my hotel.
09:56Which bit of that hotel says Strand Hotel?
10:00That's the final straw.
10:02They haven't even brought me to my pre-booked hotel.
10:05My guess is that if I check into this one,
10:07then the travel agent gets a juicy commission.
10:10It's definitely a scam, and it's time for some straight talking.
10:15Okay, listen.
10:16I haven't been completely honest with you.
10:18This is not my first time in India.
10:19I'm interested in what you're doing,
10:21because what you're doing is a scam.
10:22You're playing all the roles.
10:25Working with other people is interesting.
10:36He's asking for an incredible $200 for the journey,
10:40and then something else gets his attention.
10:43Give me a minute.
10:44Huh?
10:46Sir, what is this?
10:47That's what?
10:49My coat.
10:51Sir, you are cheating me.
10:53How am I cheating you?
10:54You are cheating me.
10:55I saw you have hidden camera.
10:59Yeah?
11:00I've been filming you.
11:00Yeah, I saw.
11:01Yeah.
11:01No, no, no, no.
11:02This is recording camera.
11:04Yeah.
11:05You are cheating me.
11:06I'm cheating you.
11:07Yeah, yeah, yeah.
11:08You are cheating me.
11:08You're cheating me.
11:10Yeah.
11:10And I've filmed you cheating me,
11:11and now I just want you to explain it to me on camera
11:14how you cheated me.
11:16We are filming you scamming me.
11:18No, no, you are scamming me, sir.
11:19You have...
11:20I'm filming your scam.
11:21You are scamming me.
11:22Now we know, so why not explain?
11:24No.
11:26The travel agent realizes his whole scam
11:28has been caught on camera,
11:31but it still takes 15 minutes of hard persuasion
11:34to get him to talk to me.
11:42Are you really a travel agent?
11:44Can you organize tours?
11:46No, no, I'm not a devil.
11:47No, no.
11:47So you knew the people that stopped us in the street?
11:54And the RTO form?
11:59There's no RTO.
12:00And the real fare for a taxi from the airport?
12:03300 rupees Indian.
12:04300 rupees.
12:05But you were going to charge me 11,000.
12:08Yeah.
12:09So is that your tactic then?
12:10Is to grind people down,
12:12make them more and more tired,
12:14that people just say,
12:15oh, okay, fine, take it.
12:23And are you always thinking of new ideas?
12:35You talk a lot.
12:37You like talking, right?
12:38Yeah, I like this type of work.
12:40What do you like about it?
12:41Because it's making money.
12:43Did you really meet Brad Pitt?
12:45No.
12:45Do you know what?
12:46I didn't really think you had met Brad Pitt.
12:48I thought maybe that was a lie.
12:58Well, I'm in a nice air-conditioned taxi
12:59and heading back to my hotel
13:01after what was the mother of all taxi scams.
13:04I've seen a few in my time,
13:05but nothing like that.
13:06There were times it was like a Bollywood movie.
13:09Started off as a bit of a comedy,
13:11ended up as a proper horror show.
13:27After that taxi ride from hell,
13:29it's actually a relief to be on foot again.
13:34I'm heading out to Kalabar Causeway
13:36in Mumbai's city centre.
13:40This is where many visitors come to buy souvenirs.
13:43and see some of the city's most renowned sights.
13:48So I'm going to get my hidden cameras ready
13:50and stroll around like a typical tourist.
13:56Let's see if I can attract any scams.
14:10As I browse the market stalls,
14:13a book for sale catches my eye.
14:15I have that one, that.
14:20Good one, this?
14:21The Scam.
14:23Real one?
14:23Real one, sir, not coffee.
14:27How much, this one?
14:28Two for $600.
14:29Two for $600.
14:31Two for $600.
14:34Okay, thank you, sir.
14:36Right there.
14:36Bye.
14:41This is a little book that I bought
14:42at the market here.
14:43Life of Pi turned into a major movie.
14:46Once you have a look inside it
14:48and start to see why it's so cheap,
14:52it's a photocopy
14:53on really cheap paper.
14:56The irony being
14:58that the one that's called The Scam
15:00is actually a genuine book.
15:04The other one
15:05is a copy.
15:13I'm not really here
15:15to go shopping,
15:16but then I spot something
15:17that I just have to buy.
15:21The largest balloon
15:23I've ever seen.
15:25How much?
15:2650 rupees.
15:2750 rupees?
15:28Yeah, I'll take one.
15:29Back of this town.
15:30Just one, it's so big
15:31and one will do me.
15:32Take the back.
15:33Okay, great.
15:37Hang on a second.
15:38Hang on a second.
15:40How does that go that big?
15:42I said one for these.
15:43Look at this.
15:50How do I get one of these?
15:51A big one, no.
15:52No.
15:54Just promotion.
15:56Advertising.
15:58That's a little scam, isn't it?
16:00So he's walking around
16:01with a big balloon.
16:02I said, can I buy a big balloon?
16:03He said, yeah, no problem.
16:0450 rupees.
16:05So I bought one.
16:06In fact, he gave me a whole packet
16:07for 100 rupees.
16:08I thought, what's a brilliant deal?
16:10And then look, blow it up.
16:17What you actually get
16:18is a small balloon.
16:21I'll be now.
16:29In India's biggest city, there's got to be bigger scams than this.
16:37There are billboards everywhere advertising the latest Bollywood movies,
16:42and it gives me an idea of where I should go next to look for scams.
16:47Well, this is the place all the guidebooks say that Bollywood scouts turn up looking for tourists
16:51to put in their movies.
16:52I'm going to go in there with my hidden camera on and see whether I attract any attention.
17:00This area is a popular spot for Western tourists, and I'm guessing many of them would jump at the chance
17:08to be in a Bollywood movie.
17:11But where there's tourists, there's bound to be scammers.
17:18I walk around aimlessly for a while, and then...
17:26Oh, no, I'm not.
17:27You can be.
17:29Really? I'm not kidding.
17:30My name is Molly Kapoor.
17:32Yes, and I'm a casting director.
17:34And it's my job to look for Talbot.
17:36Yes.
17:37Really?
17:38Yeah, you have a minute.
17:39Can we have a coffee somewhere?
17:41And I have a very interesting preposition for you.
17:44Yeah, yeah, we'll grab a coffee, yeah.
17:45Come, come, let's see.
17:47We'll get.
17:48Okay.
17:48See you.
17:50Can getting spotted really be as easy as this?
17:53I guess I'll find out.
17:59Molly takes me into Leopold's, a well-known restaurant on the Colaba Causeway.
18:05So, I'm a casting director, and they're doing this film, and I was in the vicinity to find
18:12someone I feel capable.
18:14We need a foreigner around mid-30s.
18:17Are you up for it?
18:19This is one of the most random things that's ever happened to me in my life.
18:22Life is full of random things.
18:24We'll see.
18:25It's a great part, and it's a 10-day shoot, and you will get paid.
18:28How much?
18:30Around 300 pounds.
18:32300 pounds?
18:32A day?
18:33Yes.
18:34Wow.
18:34200 pounds.
18:35That needs to be 10 days.
18:36Yes.
18:37There's this huge, huge money involved.
18:39My shoot is going to start tomorrow, so I need to fix this today.
18:43You have to make up your mind very quickly.
18:46Okay, why not?
18:47Why?
18:47Why not?
18:48Why not?
18:48Why not?
18:49Give me a high five.
18:50Why not?
18:51Have you shot a portfolio?
18:53No.
18:54No, no, of course not.
18:55Because I will need to send your pictures to my director.
18:58I can't.
18:58Can I take them on my iPhone and email them to you?
19:00No, no, no.
19:01That won't work at all.
19:02It's a professional setup we are talking about.
19:05They're going to pay you.
19:06Okay, we can do something.
19:08We can quickly go and find a place where we can fill the portfolio for.
19:12Okay.
19:12Well, we could use my hotel.
19:13That's nice.
19:14Wow, that's brilliant.
19:15But we will need a photographer, and none of them will do it for free.
19:19Okay.
19:20Are you willing to shell out some money?
19:21How much will it be, do you think?
19:23Around 500 pounds.
19:24A lot.
19:25You're talking about professional portfolio here.
19:28And you're going to earn that money in less than two days?
19:34500 pounds is $750.
19:37Serious money.
19:38But she tells me I'm going to make four and a half thousand bucks.
19:42So that's a good deal.
19:44It seems a little too good to be true.
19:46But I'm going to play along and see where we end up.
19:50Do you think it's four?
19:51I think four, he will agree.
19:53Okay.
19:54I'm up for this.
19:55It's not every day I get asked to be in a major movie.
19:57No, so breaks don't happen like that.
19:59You're the chosen one.
20:04I arrange to meet Molly in an hour's time back at my hotel.
20:07She'll bring a photographer who she says will do my Bollywood portfolio for $600.
20:14Molly says she knows I'm going to be a Bollywood star.
20:17But what she doesn't know is that she's the one being filmed.
20:24As soon as I get back to the hotel, I tell the crew to start setting up in concealed positions.
20:30Molly and her photographer may not be shooting straight, but our cameras will be.
20:36An hour later, I get a call to say I have two guests waiting in reception.
20:41Hi.
20:42How are you?
20:43Who's your name?
20:43Aditya.
20:44Bobby Bob.
20:45Bob.
20:45Adi.
20:47Connor.
20:47I'm Connor.
20:48Yeah, Connor.
20:51My photo shoot is ready to begin.
20:53But guess what?
20:55Molly has just remembered something.
20:57Oh, my God.
20:58Oh, my God.
20:59Oh, my God.
21:00Oh, I forgot one thing.
21:03Just sit.
21:04So you're not an actor, of course.
21:07No.
21:07And so for every actor, there is an association.
21:12And if you're acting on a set, you have to have that card.
21:17Okay.
21:17So we will have to get your card made quickly, but it will cost some money.
21:22How much?
21:22It will cost you around £300.
21:24But we need the card, unless you can't shoot tomorrow.
21:27You're definitely in the movie tomorrow.
21:29Yes, yes, you are in the movie tomorrow.
21:30100%?
21:31Of course.
21:32You don't have to worry about that, but we have to pay for the union thing.
21:36Okay.
21:39$450 for an actor's permit card.
21:42If this is a scam, then she's now playing me for over a grand.
21:51Oh, wow.
21:52I like this.
21:56Wow.
21:58This is going well.
22:00And Molly is my biggest fan.
22:03God, I like it.
22:04You're the one star.
22:05My God.
22:06You look so good.
22:07Whatever you wear.
22:08Or you not wear.
22:10Same one.
22:10Come, my actor.
22:12Let's do another shot.
22:13Jump into the pool.
22:19Some bad boy poses.
22:24Cool.
22:25You got the shot?
22:27The more the merrier.
22:28Should we just take a look at the picture inside?
22:30Yeah.
22:33Oh, I like this.
22:34I like this.
22:35Who knows?
22:36You will get the next Superman movie.
22:39I have to quickly rush back.
22:40I have to show these pictures because I have to get your card made.
22:45That's my job and I'm really getting laid.
22:48So, what about the payments?
22:49I hand over the money for my portfolio shots and my actor's card and Molly says she'll give
22:55them to me tomorrow, when we meet.
22:57Cool.
22:58I'll see you tomorrow at 10.
23:00Tomorrow at 10.
23:01I'll give you your card.
23:02Everything will get made.
23:03So, Leopold's at 10 o'clock?
23:06Yes.
23:07Cool.
23:07I'll see you guys then.
23:10Bye.
23:11Bye.
23:12See you later.
23:12Bye.
23:19I've just spent over $1,000 on some photos and an actor's union card.
23:25Tomorrow, I'll find out if it's enough to get me on the silver screen.
23:37Mumbai really comes alive at night.
23:42And there's plenty to see after dark.
23:49But I've only got one thing on my mind.
23:51To go to the nearest cinema, watch a Bollywood movie and start getting into character for
23:57my big debut.
24:12The following morning, I go to meet Molly as arranged for my first day acting in a Bollywood
24:18movie.
24:20I've got to admit I'm feeling a little bit nervous in case I actually do end up on a big
24:25film
24:25set today.
24:32But 45 minutes later, my Bollywood butterflies are gone, replaced by that familiar feeling.
24:42Sure enough, when I try ringing Molly's cell phone, it goes straight to voicemail.
24:52Well, it's nearly 10 to 11, no sign of Molly and I can't reach her on the phone.
24:57It looks like I've been well and truly taken for a ride.
24:59I'm down, what, nearly $1,000.
25:02It looks like I'm going to have to wait a little bit longer to see my name up in lights.
25:15I spend the next few hours looking around the area, hoping to spot Molly, but not because
25:21I'm dreaming about Bollywood.
25:24She's stung me for a thousand bucks and if I could track her down, she could spill the
25:29beans on what's a very elaborate scam.
25:38But Bollywood's not the only business in town.
25:41There's also a big market in spiritual guidance.
25:44I'm going to see one of Mumbai's established gurus.
25:49My contacts here have given me an address, but will it be a chance to enlighten my spirit
25:55or just lighten my pockets?
25:57OK, here we go.
25:58Let's go.
25:58Let's go.
26:04Hello, sir.
26:08The main reason that I'm here is because I want to be successful in Bollywood,
26:14because there is a girl that I want to impress.
26:17I want to impress her.
26:18I want to impress her family.
26:19I want to win her heart.
26:27And do you think you can move this obstacle from my path?
26:41He's going to try and gauge what's wrong with you.
26:44So he's going to do some stuff.
26:45Are you OK with that?
26:46Yes, of course.
26:47So what can we do?
27:11Just hold on really tight.
27:19Has to crack.
27:35Or maybe it's just the old ketchup in the coconut trick.
27:38It's blood. I'm not entirely sure what I'm supposed to make of all this.
27:49I definitely... yeah, I mean...
27:53I'll play along and see what he comes up with next.
27:58Yep.
28:04Jalali Baba then proceeds to insert the cigarette into a chair.
28:14And it's a tiny little cigarette.
28:18That last trick was slightly more impressive than the coconut,
28:21but I failed to see what's holy about it.
28:27It would definitely help if you show me something else.
28:35Write my name?
28:46No.
28:52No, just paper.
28:55No, just paper.
28:58No, just paper.
29:00No, just paper.
29:02No, just paper.
29:04No, just paper.
29:04Honor, you don't worry.
29:06Within 2013, you will become an actor.
29:09I, Jalali Baba, will pray to God and your work will become guaranteed 100%.
29:23There may well be legitimate spiritual practitioners in Mumbai,
29:27but what I've just witnessed here appears to be a series of cheap magic tricks.
29:34Oh, until Saturday.
29:37At this point, Jalali Baba starts to explain that his performance
29:41was merely an introduction to a much longer session,
29:44which begs the million-dollar question,
29:47and how much will this cost me?
29:49Even though...
29:55286,000 rupees.
29:57That's over $5,000.
30:06I don't have that kind of money on me.
30:08Right now, I maybe have 200 pounds on me.
30:11Now he starts with the hard sell.
30:18I'd better keep him sweet.
30:20Will $16,000 be enough to cover the cost for now?
30:24And to begin the preparations for the next stage?
30:27Sounds like a good deal.
30:30Time to leave.
30:31I pay Jalali Baba $300, the minimum I can get away with.
30:50That was unbelievable.
30:51I mean, it was worth maybe 200 quid for the show,
30:54but you can see how, if you were at all vulnerable
30:56and desperately in love with someone you wanted to marry,
30:58you could quite easily get taken for a ride.
31:01$5,000 for that little bit of hokum.
31:07Amazing.
31:15That holy man shared one thing in common with all the other scammers I've met in Mumbai,
31:20a flare for the dramatic.
31:22You can get conned out here for sure,
31:25but one thing you always get is a good performance.
31:30Molly, the talent scout, put on a great act of deception to take my money,
31:35but she's disappeared.
31:37So I'm going to meet a man who can give me the lowdown on Bollywood and its scams.
31:43Minty Tejpal, hi. Good to meet you, man.
31:46Minty Tejpal is a journalist here in Mumbai.
31:48I'm good.
31:50So I got you a number from our friend.
31:52Yes, of course.
31:53Yes, of course.
31:53Because I believe you're a bit of a Bollywood expert
31:56and I've had a bit of a bad experience.
31:58Oh, what bad experience? What happened?
32:01Okay, so I got spotted in the street by a talent scout, casting director,
32:05said, you've got a really good look.
32:09This looks familiar.
32:12It's a pretty popular scam because a lot of hopefuls come into the city every day.
32:16A lot of these people who are scamsters and who would do these things,
32:20they would drop the right names and they would have the right information, Connor.
32:23That's part of the convincing trick.
32:25If they're going to spot a hopeful and going to be pitching a film or a future to them,
32:29they would know which films are on the floor, who's the director, who's the producer.
32:33You can't be an outsider and be running a scam in any industry.
32:35You'd know. You'd know the ins and outs.
32:38So where would the wannabes hang out if they wanted to get spotted,
32:43if they wanted to be in a Bollywood movie?
32:45Where would be the kind of hot spot?
32:46Yeah, okay. You're in the wrong zone right now.
32:48Colaba, no scene.
32:49You want to head for films, Bollywood, hit the suburbs corner.
32:53And within a five-kilometer radius, there are a couple of coffee shops there.
32:56And in that same build, all the big studios are there.
32:58It's the hub. Everybody heads there.
33:00Because there have been stories about directors spotting talent some years back.
33:03They want to go sit there and have their coffee and look pretty.
33:05And that's the hangout zone.
33:07Okay. So that's the place to be?
33:09That's the place to be. Yeah, totally.
33:10If you want to get into Bollywood, that's the place to be.
33:18Like a moth to the flame, I'm off to another place where talent gets spotted.
33:24Luck one dollar.
33:27All around me, billboards, posters and movie hopefuls all playing their part in Mumbai's version of Hollywood Boulevard.
33:36This is one of the main hangouts of Bollywood wannabes.
33:39So we're staking the place out with hidden cameras.
33:41One over there, one here, one, two, three, four around the table.
33:45I want to see if anyone else approaches me and offers to make me the next face of Bollywood.
33:54Two of the crew are posing as my friends, and it looks like we're not the only wannabes looking for
33:59a big break.
34:00The competition here is fierce, but we're doing our best to exude star quality and hope to get spotted.
34:10An hour goes by, and then a stranger approaches.
34:16Hey, how are you doing?
34:17I swear to see you someone, man.
34:19Are you a sportsman?
34:20Yeah, not a professional, though. You wouldn't have seen me playing professional sport.
34:23What's your name?
34:24My name is Tony.
34:25Tony.
34:26You are?
34:26Connor. Connor.
34:28My friends Paul and Carl.
34:29Oh, you're from England?
34:31Yeah, from London. What do you do?
34:32I'm basically associated with media.
34:34So what, you're on a vacation, or what?
34:38Yeah, just here on vacation, yeah.
34:39Thought I'd come and check the place out.
34:41I like it.
34:42It's a nice place to hang out, yeah.
34:43So have you seen any Bollywood, anything?
34:45Not yet, no.
34:47Do you want to act?
34:47Do you know what?
34:48I've been told that in Mumbai, dreams can come true, let's say.
34:54That people get picked up off the street, and you get into a Bollywood movie.
34:57Does that actually happen?
34:58Yes.
34:59The sky is the limit here.
35:00Do you want to audition?
35:02Do I want to audition?
35:02Yeah.
35:03But for a part in a movie?
35:04Uh-huh.
35:05After 41 minutes, that's all I'll take?
35:07You would just take me now, we'll go for an audition for a part in a Bollywood movie?
35:11Just like that?
35:12Yeah.
35:12And what do I have to do?
35:13Literally just turn up and...
35:15There's a little, there are a couple of lines.
35:17There'll be a video camera in front of you.
35:19Sure.
35:19You have to see the line, then you have to act it.
35:21Okay.
35:22Yeah, I'll do it, I'll do it, I'll do it.
35:23I'll game, I'm game, I'm game, I'm game, I'm game.
35:25Okay, what?
35:26Every week, people are seeing somebody's dream being realised.
35:30So I think we should make a move.
35:31We can go, yeah?
35:32Yeah.
35:32You ready?
35:35Tony hails a cab and takes us to a nearby audition room.
35:40So far, he hasn't asked me for a single rupee.
35:44Either he's genuine, or he's running a different strategy from Molly.
35:49There's only one way to find out.
35:52Ah, the script.
35:55He hands me the script.
35:57This isn't going to be easy, because some of the lines are in Hindi.
36:03The movie is a historical drama set in India during British colonial rule,
36:07and I'm playing a ruthless English army officer.
36:14In this scene, my character is trying to shoot a deer,
36:17but keeps being thwarted by an animal-loving villager.
36:23Okay.
36:26Sir, this tug has been distracting the deer.
36:43I think I can do this.
36:48This time, I'm going to nail it.
36:50And, action.
36:52Sir, this tug has been distracting the deer.
36:54I understand.
36:56I'm sorry.
36:58I'm sorry,
36:59I'm sorry.
36:59I'm sorry,
36:59I'm sorry.
37:01Sir, sir, he's a farmer from Champagne.
37:03Ah.
37:05So you must be a fast runner.
37:09Try saving this one.
37:14Next time,
37:15I'll shoot you.
37:19Super.
37:21Let's make a movie.
37:22Yeah?
37:23You get this so you owe me a party.
37:25Okay.
37:25This is not for nothing.
37:26Okay. Deal.
37:27Deal?
37:28Yeah, yeah.
37:28Okay.
37:29For sure.
37:38If this is a scam, I don't get it.
37:40And if it isn't, am I really going to make it big in Bollywood?
37:55Later that afternoon, I get a phone call from Tony to say the director loved my audition,
38:01and I've got a role in the movie.
38:03Where have I heard that before?
38:07Tony wants to come to my hotel to celebrate, but I'm a bit cautious, so I set up in a
38:13friend's
38:13apartment.
38:15There's something not quite right about this.
38:17We're having a party tonight to celebrate my new partner Bollywood film, but I've been
38:21here before and I've been ripped off by an agent before, so if anything fishy happens
38:25in this room, I want to see it.
38:26We've got one, two, three, four, five, six hidden cameras in this room.
38:32Anything that happens in here, I'm going to see it.
38:50Hello.
38:51Hey.
38:52How are you?
38:53How are you?
38:53How are you?
38:53I'm good, man.
38:53Nice to see you.
38:54That's Melody.
38:55You brought a friend.
38:56Hi, Melody.
38:56Nice to meet you.
38:58Hi.
38:59I've got whiskey.
39:00I've got vodka.
39:01I've got, you know, whatever you want.
39:03I'm a vodka girl.
39:05I'm a vodka girl.
39:05Well, have some vodka.
39:06You want it with some club soda?
39:08You want it neat?
39:08You want to sit down?
39:09Yeah, sit down.
39:10Make yourself comfortable.
39:11Sit down.
39:12Sit down.
39:12Cheers, guys.
39:14Cheers.
39:15Cheers.
39:16So that director's happy that you spotted somebody?
39:19Yeah.
39:19Yeah.
39:20I can't believe this.
39:23No, I'm really getting jealous.
39:24Yeah, why don't you help this girl?
39:27Melody is also a wannabe Bollywood star.
39:29And according to Tony, she's in with a real chance.
39:33It goes like this.
39:35Touch me, touch me, touch me.
39:36Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me.
39:39Oh, oh, oh, oh.
39:43Wow, it is a sexy dance.
39:45And she's singing along with it.
39:47The dance routine is pretty entertaining,
39:49but it's not why we have six cameras in the room.
39:52Then the doorbell rings.
39:54Yeah?
39:54Is that your bell?
39:56Yeah, yeah.
39:56I wasn't expecting anyone.
39:58You've got more friends coming over.
40:02Hello?
40:03Morning.
40:04What's up?
40:05Can I help you?
40:07What are you doing?
40:09Sorry, who are you?
40:10Who's she?
40:12Sorry, who are you?
40:13You've just walked into my friend's apartment.
40:15Just sit.
40:16Sit down.
40:18Hold on later.
40:19Huh?
40:20What are you doing?
40:22Hang on.
40:22You know these guys?
40:23You're a fucking cop.
40:24Just sit down.
40:25Sit down, Ronald.
40:26Sit down.
40:27You're doing something wrong, you know?
40:29What am I doing wrong?
40:30I'm cops.
40:31I'm just having a drink with some friends?
40:33What are we...
40:34Who's this guy?
40:35Somebody for them saying that there is a...
40:37Something happening in his life.
40:39So whatever you've got to do, just calm down.
40:42Okay.
40:42I'm calm.
40:43But this guy's kind of intimidating.
40:46What are your name?
40:47Connor.
40:49Breaking license.
40:50Do you have license?
40:51I'm over 21.
40:53I think we can see that.
40:54You're going very wrong.
40:56She's underage.
40:57Me, sir?
40:58I'm 23, sir.
40:59I don't know what's going on.
41:00Show me your ID.
41:01I don't...
41:02I don't carry ID.
41:07Okay, okay, okay, okay.
41:09Whoa, whoa, whoa.
41:09Come on.
41:15Sorry.
41:15What was that?
41:17You said money?
41:18Yeah.
41:19Tony says the cop wants money and is accusing us of drinking without a license.
41:23If we don't give him money, he's going to take us to the police station.
41:27But what?
41:28We haven't done anything wrong.
41:29The problem in Bombay is that if you're drinking, even if you're 25 or 30, you need
41:33a license to drink.
41:36I've only been drinking lemonade, so I'm not breaking any laws.
41:39But what Tony tells me next really worries me.
41:43He's thinking that you're being a prostitute.
41:45Is she a prostitute?
41:46Are you fucking crazy?
41:47I'm just asking you.
41:48I need to know now, because this is a bad situation.
41:53What do we have to do to make this go away, Tony?
41:55Tony, what do we have to do to make this go away?
42:00How much money?
42:03Melody gets really upset and starts to cry.
42:06At which point, Tony motions for her to leave with one of the cops.
42:15Where's she going?
42:19So you're going to leave me here with this guy?
42:23What?
42:23How can you get to go?
42:25Hang on.
42:26What is going on here, Tony?
42:28You can walk out of here and I can't walk out of here.
42:31All my instincts are telling me that this is a scam.
42:34If I'm right, I'm in trouble, because this isn't the kind of guy you want to disagree with.
42:40But if I'm wrong, and he really is a cop, then things could get really complicated.
42:46This is too convenient.
42:49You take me for an audition, you bring me in here.
42:51This guy turns up.
42:52What does he want? 2,000 pounds?
42:54What was he saying to you?
42:57This is getting a bit nerve-wracking, but I've got to stick to my guns.
43:01At what point do we break the charade here?
43:05What the fuck is wrong with you, man?
43:07What's going on here?
43:08You sure this isn't a scam?
43:10Let me explain to you.
43:12I maybe haven't been completely honest with you, but I don't think you're being completely honest with me either.
43:17I'm in Mumbai looking for scams.
43:21And I think this is a little scene for me to try and get money out of me.
43:27Tony realises he's busted.
43:29He makes a phone call.
43:31I'm not here on my own.
43:32I want you to explain to me on camera.
43:34I'm here with a TV crew.
43:37It's down the road.
43:38I can bring it here quickly.
43:40I'm making a TV show.
43:42I'm making a TV show.
43:43I don't want to cause whatever.
43:45I don't want to cause a problem for you.
43:46This is my work.
43:47OK, this is your work.
43:48I understand.
43:50Tony says he doesn't want to do an on-camera interview.
43:53The two men argue for a minute, and then the cop tells him to leave.
43:58Tony, you coming back?
44:01But the big guy stays in the room.
44:05Just you and me?
44:06Yeah.
44:08So, here's what I propose.
44:11I tell him I've been secretly recording the scam on six hidden cameras,
44:15but I won't cause any trouble if he agrees to talk.
44:19You explain to me how this works, but I want to bring in a camera.
44:24Yeah.
44:25Do you want to bring someone in from here too?
44:27Please don't be alarmed.
44:28The full Scam City crew come into the room with a Hindi translator.
44:40So, were you ever really a policeman?
44:43No.
44:43Never.
44:44How often do you scam tourists?
44:53Can you remember a particular time that you scam tourists?
44:57One time a tourist got me, and I offer him, he wants some drugs.
45:05And when we were taking drugs, my friends stop cops.
45:14And they said, it's illegal.
45:17You have to go to jail.
45:23So, do you always work with an accomplice?
45:34And how long have you known Tony?
45:36Two years back.
45:37Okay.
45:38So, have you done similar scams with Tony before on tourists?
45:44Because my English is very weak,
45:46he has worked with the mediator.
45:50So, it's almost like a little scene in a film.
45:53Do you feel a bit like an actor when you're playing out a scam?
45:57Everyone is an actor.
45:58How do we catch that talent?
46:03It depends on what it is.
46:04Have you ever had a scam go wrong?
46:07When I start, complete.
46:16This has been one of the most elaborate scams I've come across.
46:24Tony and Melody have disappeared into the night,
46:28leaving me with the fake cop.
46:31A seriously deceptive individual.
46:34Cold. Professional. Dangerous.
46:39Well, this town may be all about Bollywood,
46:41and that guy might seem like a villain from a Bond film.
46:44There's no doubt in my mind,
46:46real baddies are a lot scarier than the ones in the movies.
46:59Some say Mumbai is named after a Hindu mother goddess,
47:02and it feels like I've experienced the mother of all scams.
47:14Everyone seems to be playing a part,
47:18but the most impressive performances I've seen
47:20have been from the people trying to scam me.
47:24All the scammers I've met have been such good actors
47:27that it seems to me like they would make it in Bollywood
47:30if they put their minds to it.
47:38Then again.
47:39Maybe that wouldn't be quite so entertaining.
48:00DODRABOLOGY.
48:00THE HEAD THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO CALL ME
48:01THE IMPACT OF THE THEM.
48:01YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO TELL YOU
48:02THE IMPACT OF THE THERE.