0:00:48 > 0:00:51Alex has come to this busy multi-storey car park
0:00:51 > 0:00:53to pick up a brand-new luxury car.
0:00:53 > 0:00:59And, if his plan works, that's exactly what he'll be driving out of here in just ten minutes.
0:00:59 > 0:01:03The car park he's chosen is used by tourists and the general public
0:01:03 > 0:01:07and is also a base for a major car-rental agency.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11Alex sets about looking official in his fluorescent jacket,
0:01:11 > 0:01:16but he needs to work quickly to avoid attracting unwelcome attention.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25It's just round the corner, downstairs.
0:01:25 > 0:01:26Just walk down this ramp...
0:01:26 > 0:01:29..do a U-turn.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32For the scam, Alex needs some customers to rent one of the cars.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36Could this be the opportunity he's been looking for?
0:01:42 > 0:01:44Looks like Alex could be in luck.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56It's time for Alex to put the plan in gear.
0:01:56 > 0:01:58He's going to make these girls give him their car.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00- Are you for this one?- Yeah.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02Oh, right, OK.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06One second, cos I've just had a call from them downstairs...um...
0:02:06 > 0:02:12Within seconds, Alex is holding the keys to this £35,000 luxury car.
0:02:12 > 0:02:17I'm going to have to give you a different one. This one, there's a slight problem with a rear wheel.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19- Oh, right.- It's not behaving properly.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21Do you have your paperwork?
0:02:21 > 0:02:25The girls already saw Alex on their way to the rental office,
0:02:25 > 0:02:27so don't question his authority.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29They hand over all their paperwork.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31Do you have your exit ticket as well?
0:02:31 > 0:02:36It matches with the car. I'll be 30 seconds. I'm going to come down here...
0:02:36 > 0:02:38I promise I'll be two seconds, yeah?
0:02:38 > 0:02:39So far, so good.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41He's got everything he needs to make his getaway.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45That one's a bit more powerful than this one, so you'll have more fun.
0:02:45 > 0:02:51Alex has got his hands on the car, but can he drive it away from right under their noses?
0:02:56 > 0:02:58He doesn't hang about,
0:02:58 > 0:03:03and makes his way out of the car park, driving straight past the rental office in the process,
0:03:03 > 0:03:07and using the genuine exit ticket for the barriers,
0:03:07 > 0:03:09which the girls kindly gave him.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13The whole operation has taken just ten minutes.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22The marks soon realise something isn't quite right.
0:03:37 > 0:03:42Eventually, they decide to ask the rental staff what's going on.
0:03:48 > 0:03:53- Hiya.- That bloke just took our car. - Who?
0:03:53 > 0:03:57The, er... He said there was a problem with the back wheel.
0:03:57 > 0:04:02He asked for the documents, the key and the thingy card.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06He just took it!
0:04:07 > 0:04:08Well, he said he needed...
0:04:08 > 0:04:10Oh, my...
0:04:10 > 0:04:13- When we drove past to park, he was there, wasn't he?- Yeah.
0:04:13 > 0:04:17And then when we came to get the car, he was up there. And he was just looking at all the cars.
0:04:17 > 0:04:23It dawns on the rental agent, and the marks, that they've been the victims of a con trick,
0:04:23 > 0:04:25and that their car is gone.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28Some bloke swabbed it from us.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30He said there was a problem with the back wheel.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34He just looked like he worked here! Oh, what the hell is going on?
0:04:34 > 0:04:37Why would you give keys to someone you don't know?!
0:04:38 > 0:04:43It always amazes us how people drop their guard when they see a fluorescent jacket.
0:04:43 > 0:04:50That just makes it easy for Alex to give them instructions, take the car and the paperwork, and leave.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54Modern, expensive vehicles are actually quite difficult to steal.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58They've got sophisticated security systems and sophisticated locks.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01The best way to be able to steal them is to get the keys.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05If somebody comes up to you and says, "Give me your keys,"
0:05:05 > 0:05:08unless you're absolutely certain they are who they say they are,
0:05:08 > 0:05:10don't part with them!
0:05:15 > 0:05:21When on holiday, it doesn't get much better than relaxing in the sun with a drink in your hand...
0:05:21 > 0:05:23except if that drink is free.
0:05:24 > 0:05:29The hustlers are going to show you how to win drinks from your mates by using proposition bets.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31So, watch and learn.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33I will have a gin and tonic, please.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36When you lot go out, this is how you dress?
0:05:36 > 0:05:38- Well...- What are you dressed for right now?
0:05:38 > 0:05:42- Just...going out.- Yeah?- Cazh. - Do you always wear a tie? - Not always, no.
0:05:42 > 0:05:47- Do you mind taking it off? Bet you don't get many girls asking you to take it off.- Loads.
0:05:47 > 0:05:48Really?
0:05:49 > 0:05:54Thank you. I want you to take one hand at one end of the tie, the other hand on the other end.
0:05:54 > 0:05:58Without letting go, I want you to tie a knot right in the middle.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02So, in the end, it's gonna look... just like that.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05- Without letting go? - Without letting go.- Right.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07How many knots do you want?
0:06:07 > 0:06:08How many knots can you give me?
0:06:08 > 0:06:12- I'll be impressed if you do one, but if you can do two, go for it.- OK.
0:06:12 > 0:06:13OK.
0:06:15 > 0:06:16Tie a knot.
0:06:20 > 0:06:25- What's that? No, a knot!- I'm getting there!- OK, OK.- That's not a knot.
0:06:25 > 0:06:26OK, that's fine.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29- Can I use my teeth?- Er, if you want.
0:06:32 > 0:06:38And, it's... It's... Ah, no, that was cheating because you grabbed another end.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40- And it didn't work anyway. - It's not it.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43You know what? I don't think you can do it.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46OK. If I can do it, how about you buy me a drink?
0:06:46 > 0:06:49- I would love to.- You'd love to buy me a drink...- Yeah.- ..if I can do it?
0:06:49 > 0:06:52- You can't let go.- Can't let go. - All right.- OK.
0:06:52 > 0:06:57So, I'm going to have one hand, like you did, and the other, like you did.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59- I'm not going to let go. - Oh, I get you.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03And there is your...
0:07:04 > 0:07:05- Ah.- Fair play.
0:07:05 > 0:07:06..knot.
0:07:07 > 0:07:08SHE LAUGHS
0:07:08 > 0:07:10- Very good. - A gin and tonic, please.
0:07:10 > 0:07:16It's simple. Jess started with her arms crossed, and picked up each end of the tie.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20Then she uncrossed her arms to produce the knot...
0:07:20 > 0:07:22and a free drink.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32Getting a good exchange rate on your foreign currency
0:07:32 > 0:07:36makes all the difference to your holiday spending money.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40So if the rate was, say, 25 yen to one pound,
0:07:40 > 0:07:45and someone offered you 50 yen to one pound, you'd be mad not to take it...wouldn't you?
0:07:45 > 0:07:50Right next door to London Stansted is this busy airport hotel.
0:07:50 > 0:07:56With an exclusive travellers' bar, and eye-catching aerial acrobatics,
0:07:56 > 0:07:58it's the perfect setting for...
0:07:58 > 0:08:01the Currency Swindle.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04With such unusual entertainment on offer,
0:08:04 > 0:08:08it's not hard for Paul to strike up a conversation with some strangers.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11Step one...
0:08:11 > 0:08:12You seen this?
0:08:15 > 0:08:19Cool little find, this place. If you ever use the airport, this is the place to come and wait.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23I'm just going back up to Glasgow.
0:08:23 > 0:08:27Unfortunately, I'm stuck here until my friend arrives.
0:08:27 > 0:08:31Now that Paul has got two new friends, it's time for his old friends -
0:08:31 > 0:08:37businessman Alex and his girlfriend, Jess, to make their entrance.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40They're here to do a little business deal with Paul.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45- Took your time.- Sorry, yeah. I got a flight. Good to see you.- Hiya!
0:08:45 > 0:08:48- Hello, there.- How are you? - Very good.- Good.
0:08:48 > 0:08:49Where you off to?
0:08:49 > 0:08:50- We're going to Geneva.- Nice.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53Ah. Right.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56Pleasantries over, it's time for...
0:08:58 > 0:09:00What've we got? I got 600.
0:09:00 > 0:09:05- Oh, that's good. Yeah, OK. Cool. - Can you get any more?
0:09:05 > 0:09:11- Because I've actually got 52,000 yen here.- What's that?
0:09:11 > 0:09:16That's 1,000. Well, it's 2,000, but I'm...doing it for 1,000.
0:09:16 > 0:09:21The marks can't help overhearing that sums of money are being discussed.
0:09:21 > 0:09:26Alex is offering to sell Paul Japanese yen at an amazing exchange rate.
0:09:26 > 0:09:32- The exchange rate's 25.012...- I'll do it for 50.- Do it for 50?- Yeah.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35If you'd told me that on the phone, I would have tried to get more.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38- Can't you get some more?- ATM, that's all it's going to give me.
0:09:38 > 0:09:44As luck would have it, Alex is in possession of more foreign currency than Paul can afford to buy.
0:09:44 > 0:09:49If only there was someone else nearby with money in their pockets, up for making a quick yen.
0:09:49 > 0:09:53You're not travelling to Japan any time soon, are you?
0:09:55 > 0:09:56Well, look, here's the deal...
0:09:56 > 0:09:59Now, to rope the marks in, and give them...
0:10:01 > 0:10:05I've just come home from Japan, cos I work for a big investment bank.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09Believe it or not, they're still giving us a lot of money to go out and do business with.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12- If I go and change it at the exchange place, they ask for passports...- Yeah.
0:10:12 > 0:10:18- If I leave a paper trail that I've changed that money back, I can get into trouble with my employer.- OK.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21So, what I'm trying to do with my friend, Paul, here...
0:10:21 > 0:10:25The exchange rate at the moment is 25 yen to one pound.
0:10:25 > 0:10:30- I'm happy to do it... - You giving us 50?- 50 for one pound, so double it up.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33It would seem like everyone's a winner here.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37Alex gets to keep some of his leftover business expenses,
0:10:37 > 0:10:41without leaving a paper trail which could get him in trouble with his boss.
0:10:41 > 0:10:46And the marks get Japanese yen at half price, which they can exchange back into pounds,
0:10:46 > 0:10:49effectively doubling their money.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52But, to make sure the marks buy in, they first need...
0:10:54 > 0:10:57- Have you got the exchange rates on that thing? Can you get them?- Yeah.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00Just so you see I'm not messing with you.
0:11:00 > 0:11:05Paul shows the marks a currency-exchange website on his mobile phone.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08They can clearly see today's rate is 25 yen to one pound.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12- What website are you on there?- TRH. - Well that's up to date, yeah.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14You're making two-to-one.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19You know what? Times are hard.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22The marks want in.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24How much cash have you got on you?
0:11:26 > 0:11:28Yeah, yeah, that's fine.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32- That's 11,500. What I'll do is I'll give you ...- Give them 12,000. - 12,000.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35Alex even rounds it up to the nearest thousand.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38The marks have got themselves a great deal.
0:11:38 > 0:11:39Who's going to hold the cash?
0:11:40 > 0:11:41Do it separately...
0:11:41 > 0:11:46They hand over £230 to a guy they've just met in a bar.
0:11:47 > 0:11:49- Right. Can we shoot? - Yeah, we have to.
0:11:49 > 0:11:54As soon as the deal is done, Alex and Jess leave. After all, they've got a plane to catch.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57- Thank you.- Enjoy. - Have a good holiday.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59I'm going to change that and get my flight.
0:11:59 > 0:12:03And it's not long before Paul also says sayonara to his new friends.
0:12:11 > 0:12:18And it's about to get a whole lot worse, when she discovers what her fistful of yen is really worth.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23- 4,000 yen.- Yeah, it's a really good deal.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26They was really nice to do that, really, to be honest.
0:12:26 > 0:12:31We expect to make at least 420...
0:12:31 > 0:12:34He showed us the exchange rate on the thing, so...cool.
0:12:34 > 0:12:39- What website are you on there?- TRH. - Well, that's up to date, yeah.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42Of course, you shouldn't always trust what you see on the internet.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45That currency website was knocked up by the hustlers themselves.
0:12:45 > 0:12:51And 25 yen to one pound is probably the worst exchange rate in history...
0:12:51 > 0:12:55as the marks could have discovered in any current newspaper.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57Is that what the exchange rate is today?
0:12:57 > 0:13:00139.8.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02This is worth £75.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04What?!
0:13:04 > 0:13:09So the marks haven't doubled their money. In fact, they're £150 down on the deal.
0:13:09 > 0:13:10We've been mugged off.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12I can't even talk...
0:13:16 > 0:13:20Never get involved in any sort of deal that you haven't organised yourself
0:13:20 > 0:13:23and especially with people that you've never met before.
0:13:23 > 0:13:28You should always buy your foreign money either from a reputable currency exchange or a bank.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46Subtitles by Zoe Short Red Bee Media Ltd
0:13:46 > 0:13:48E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk