A British man was beaten and robbed after falling for a dating app honeytrap operated by muggers in Brazil, say police.

The 36-year-old London-born victim – not named by police in Sao Paulo – was snatched by the gang moments after talking to a woman on the street on 28th November.

Four crooks – one of them armed – had bundled him into a car and stripped him of his cash, clothes, trainers, GBP-19,000 Rolex watch, smartphone, and Louis Vuitton belt.

But when they demanded that he transfer cash via a local instant payment scheme called PIX, he told them he could not because he has no Brazilian bank account, reported local media.

Furious, the gang beat him senseless and threw him out of the car onto the street, where police later found him and took him to hospital.

Following a tip-off, cops seized a 16-year-old boy, who was later identified by the victim at the police station.

Officers seized BRL 1,457 (GBP 230) in cash and a Samsung mobile phone from him.

The victim told local media that he lives in London but regularly travels to Brazil to visit his one-year-old son, who lives with his mother, from whom he is separated.

According to reports, eight out of 10 kidnappings in Sao Paulo are carried out through bogus dating apps.

Police are still searching for the other suspects involved in the robbery.