The ROCKERS team former Megadeth bassist James LoMenzo (L) and his lawyer friend Abba were stolen from twice on the Amazing Race. Once buy fellow contestants and a 2nd time by a Russian taxi driver who took off with their bags and Abba's passport. No passport resulted in them being eliminated from the race - (CBS photo)

Twins Nadiya and Natalie have bad Karma on their hands from stealing money from fellow contestants rockers James LoMenzo and lawyer friend Abba. The rockers have been eliminated but the twins remain in the Top 4 of the race for US $1 million - (CBS photo)

In Amazing Race 13 that aired in November of 2008 the mother son team Toni and Dallas left their bags in a taxi in Russia that also stole their belongings - (CBS photo)   Friends Zev and Justin had their bags stolen when they left them in a Global taxi in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in Amazing Race 15 that aired in October 2009 - (CBS photo)

Conor Woodman travels around the world hoping to be ripped off by hustlers for his TV show Scam City televised on the National Geographic Channel - (RhondanClive Photo) SCAM CITY REVEALS TOURIST SCAMS

Video Beat & Travel Tips SPECIAL - Part 2 - AMAZING RACE - SCAM CITY - REVEAL TAXI THEFTS & SCAMS

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

What has emerged over the past few weeks on the Amazing Race is mind-boggling. Two contestants named the ROCKERS due to their long hair and backgrounds in the music business became the third victim in the race's history to have their possessions and passports stolen by a taxi driver as well as their money taken by fellow Amazing Race contestants - Recommended TV Listings

Monday November 26, 2012

BEWARE OF TAXI's

What has emerged over the past few weeks on the Amazing Race is mind-boggling. Two contestants named the ROCKERS due to their long hair and backgrounds in the music business became the third victim in the race's history to have their possessions and passports stolen by a taxi driver. The result being that they ALL were eliminated from the race.

Former White Lion and Megadeth metal bassist James LoMenzo and his lawyer friend Abba fill the bill being named the ROCKERS in this series. Both are intelligent but the lawyer Abba has a memory problem. Both had their bags stolen in Russia when they left them in a taxi that drove off with their belongings. James was the smarter as he had is passport on his body but Abba had his in his bag.

This was the second time bags were and passports were stolen from race contestants in Russia. In Amazing Race 13 that aired in November of 2008 the mother son team Toni and Dallas left their bags in a taxi that also stole their belongings when they went to do a task. Having no passport they were eliminated from the race.

In Amazing Race 15 that aired in October 2009 contestants Zev and Justin had their bags in a Global tax. They went into a Watt to do a task. When they finished and checked in at Watt Phnom they realized their bags and passport were missing. They called the taxi driver who claimed that he knew nothing about it. In that instance these contestants always left their bags to in the taxi to do a task while all other competitors took their bags with them. In this case the two friend's bags were found in a Watt and turned in to the US Embassy. Everything including their passports was recovered except THE MONEY.

Fortunately for the rockers that was a non elimination portion of the race. That gave the them another day to find the thief, deal with the police and the US Embassy. They were SOL ($#!t outta luck) in all cases thus eliminated. The US Embassy refused to give them a quick replacement passport.

Abba's other absent mindedness came into play earlier in the race when they were purchasing tickets at a tourist service in Bangladesh. The lawyer left his wallet with all of his money in the wallet.

Two other contestants Natalie and Nadiya twin girls from New York City but of Sri Lankan heritage saw it and one of the twins yelled out who's is this as the rockers were still near them in office. The other twin told her to keep quiet and they kept the money. When the Rockers discovered they lost their money they went begging in the streets and found a helpful young lady who gave them some cash to move on and remain in the race.

The twins were never confronted by the host of the sow regarding the theft and remain in the top four of the race. In failing to do so this sets a poor image of the show embracing integrity. They punish and disqualify other contestants for lesser violations. It may not be in the programs rules and regulations but after this disgraceful occurrence perhaps the powers that be should reappraise their standards. To permit an International TV audience to see a program ignore such a crime is the wrong message to send to viewers.

As far as the twins are concerned it will be interesting to see if their BAD KARMA comes into play.

This is the second edition of our TV coverage that crosses over to Travel Tips. Scam City was featured in our first edition but the Amazing Race 21 jumped into the spotlight as mentioned and not for good reasons.

Scam City has visited several countries where taxi drivers are the first step in a tourist being ripped off. Their driver's efforts are rewarded in receiving a commission from the business' that they bring a foreigner to. In some cases a foreigner is brought to a bar to have a friendly drink with a local they bumped into who offers their help in sowing the foreigner around for FREE of course.

In Prague and Buenos Aires the host of the show had to pay money from $300 up to get out of the club he was taken to. The foreigners also receive a bill for a couple of drinks that has ranged from 100 Euro to a poor college student up to demanding US $2,000. They scammers offer their help in walking the tourist to an ATM to make sure they get their money or else the tourist will be beaten up or possibly murdered. The local police are in on the scams.

The Amazing Race airs tonight Monday's in East Asia on the AXN Network. Scam City airs Tuesday's in East Asia on the National Geographic Network. Check listing below or what is available to you for your area.

TRAVEL TIP: DO NOT LEAVE YOUR BAGS with your PASSPORT in a taxi.

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