Georgian police arrest four for defrauding foreign tourists

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, acting upon a judge’s ruling, has apprehended four individuals on charges of participating in fraudulent activities against tourists as part of an organized group, the body said on Wednesday. 

According to the ongoing investigation, the manager of a restaurant in Tbilisi collaborated with an employee to devise a fraudulent scheme. Specifically, they used promo girls via a certain application to engage with foreign male tourists visiting Georgia, enticing them to the restaurant under false pretenses.

Once at the establishment, members of the criminal group imposed exorbitant charges for the services provided. In instances where the victims resisted payment, the defendants resorted to psychological coercion to extract money from them.

The crime carries a penalty of seven to 10 years of imprisonment upon conviction.