Scams in Colombia Targeting Foreigners (And How to Avoid Them)

After two years in Colombia, I've had exactly one close call with a scam — a guy on the Medellin metro who tried the bracelet trick on me. I spotted it immediately because I'd read about it before moving here. That's the whole point of this guide: if you know what's coming, you can sidestep nearly every scam targeting foreigners in this country.

Let me be real upfront. Colombia is not some lawless danger zone. Most expats live here for years without ever being scammed. But foreigners are targeted differently than locals, and certain scams are designed specifically for people who don't speak great Spanish, don't know local pricing, or let their guard down in the wrong moment. Knowing the playbook is your best defense.

Escopolamina (Devil's Breath)

This is the one that gets all the headlines, and for good reason — it's genuinely terrifying when it happens. Scopolamine is a drug derived from the borrachero tree that grows all over Colombia. In powder or liquid form, it makes you compliant and erases your memory. Victims wake up hours later with empty bank accounts, no phone, and no memory of what happened.

The delivery method is almost always through a drink (at a bar, a house party, or on a date) or occasionally blown as powder into your face. The people who get hit hardest are guys who meet an attractive stranger at a bar and accept a drink. I know that sounds like victim-blaming, and it's not — but the pattern is consistent enough that the warning is worth stating plainly.

How to protect yourself: never accept drinks from strangers. Keep your hand over your glass. If a date insists you try their drink, that's a red flag. If you suddenly feel extremely disoriented after one drink, tell the bartender immediately and call someone you trust. This scam is rare in expat-heavy neighborhoods but more common in nightlife zones of big cities.

Dating and Romance Scams

Colombia has a reputation as a dating destination, and scammers exploit that aggressively. The classic version works on dating apps — someone matches with a foreigner, builds a relationship over weeks, then asks for money for a medical emergency, a family crisis, or to buy a bus ticket to come visit.

The in-person version is more sophisticated. You meet someone at a bar or through a friend of a friend. Things progress quickly. Within a few weeks, there's a financial emergency. The amounts start small (100,000 COP for medicine) and escalate. Some people have lost thousands of dollars this way.

My rule: if someone you've known for less than a month asks for money, the answer is no. Period. Real romantic partners don't ask foreigners for cash in the early stages. This applies regardless of how genuine the connection feels.

Fake Police Shakedowns

This one catches a lot of tourists off guard. Someone in a police-looking uniform approaches you on the street and says they need to check your documents or search your bags for drugs. Sometimes they have a partner who plays the role of another tourist who's already been 'checked.' The goal is to get your wallet out so they can grab cash, or to intimidate you into paying a fake fine.

Real Colombian police can ask to see your ID, but they won't demand to inspect your wallet or ask you to show them how much cash you're carrying. If something feels off, ask for their placa (badge number) and say you want to walk to the nearest CAI (police station) together. Fake cops will disappear. Real cops will agree.

Taxi and Ride Scams

Taxi scams in Colombia come in several flavors. The long route scam: the driver takes a deliberately longer path, especially from airports. The broken meter scam: the taximetro 'isn't working' so they quote an inflated flat rate. The counterfeit bill scam: you pay with a 50,000 COP bill and the driver switches it for a fake one, then claims you gave them counterfeit money and demands a replacement.

The fix is simple. Use InDrive or Uber (both work great in major Colombian cities) instead of hailing street taxis. If you do take a yellow taxi, make sure the meter is running from the start. In Medellin, the meter is mandatory by law. And pay with exact change or small bills to avoid the counterfeit swap.

ATM Skimming

Card skimming happens at ATMs throughout Latin America, and Colombia is no exception. Criminals attach devices to ATM card slots that copy your card data, combined with a hidden camera or overlay keypad that captures your PIN.

Use ATMs inside banks during business hours whenever possible. Check the card slot for anything loose or unusual before inserting your card. Cover the keypad when entering your PIN. And enable transaction alerts on your bank app so you catch unauthorized charges immediately.

A good VPN like NordVPN also helps protect your financial data when you're banking on public wifi, which you'll likely do at coworking spaces and cafes.

Rental Deposit Scams

This one is increasingly common as more foreigners rent apartments in Colombia. You find a place on Facebook Marketplace or a WhatsApp group, the 'landlord' asks for a deposit to hold the apartment, you send the money, and the person disappears. Sometimes the apartment doesn't even exist. Other times, the listing uses photos from a real apartment but the person you're talking to isn't the actual owner.

Never send a deposit without visiting the apartment in person. Ask to see the property documents (escritura or contrato de arrendamiento). And whenever possible, work with a known real estate agent rather than random Facebook posts. The few thousand pesos you spend on an agent's commission is cheap insurance against losing a multi-million peso deposit.

Street Scams: Bracelets, Money Exchange, and Gringo Pricing

The bracelet scam: someone ties a friendship bracelet on your wrist 'as a gift,' then demands payment. Once it's on your wrist, they get aggressive. The defense is simple — don't let strangers put anything on your body. A firm 'no gracias' and keep walking.

Money exchange scams happen on the street, especially near tourist areas in Cartagena and Bogota. Someone offers you a great exchange rate, then either short-changes you during the count or mixes in counterfeit bills. Always use official exchange houses (casas de cambio) or your bank. The 'better rate' on the street isn't worth the risk.

Gringo pricing is the most annoying one because it's so normalized. Vendors, taxi drivers, and even some restaurants quote foreigners higher prices. It's not exactly a scam — it's more like a tax on looking foreign. Learning basic Spanish numbers and knowing approximate local prices goes a long way. If a taxi to the airport should cost 30,000 COP and someone quotes 80,000, just say no and walk to the next one.

No Dar Papaya (The Golden Rule)

Colombians have a saying: 'no dar papaya.' It roughly means don't make yourself an easy target. Don't walk around with your phone in your back pocket. Don't wear flashy jewelry in unfamiliar neighborhoods. Don't count large amounts of cash in public. Don't walk down empty streets alone at 3 AM.

This isn't about living in fear — it's about common sense that locals practice daily. The vast majority of scams and thefts target people who are visibly not paying attention. Keep your awareness up and you eliminate most of the risk.

Make sure you have travel insurance like SafetyWing before anything happens. It covers theft, medical emergencies, and trip interruptions across Latin America for about $45/month.

How to Report a Crime in Colombia

If you are scammed or robbed, go to the nearest Fiscalia (prosecutor's office) to file a denuncia (formal report). You can also file online through the Fiscalia's website. For emergencies, dial 123 (the Colombian 911). In tourist areas of Cartagena, Bogota, and Medellin, there's tourist police (Policia de Turismo) who speak some English and handle foreigner-related incidents.

Filing a report is important even if you don't expect to recover your belongings. It creates a record that helps with insurance claims, and it helps authorities track patterns. The process takes 1-2 hours and you'll need your passport or cedula.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ How common are scams against foreigners in Colombia?

Most expats never experience a serious scam. Petty stuff like gringo pricing is common, but scopolamine drugging and fake police encounters are rare — they just make headlines. Use normal street smarts and you'll be fine in the vast majority of situations.

❓ What's the most dangerous scam in Colombia?

Escopolamina (scopolamine) is the most dangerous because it renders you physically compliant and wipes your memory. Avoid accepting drinks from strangers and always keep your glass in sight. If you feel suddenly and inexplicably disoriented, get help immediately.

❓ Are dating apps safe to use in Colombia?

Dating apps are widely used and generally safe, but you should take precautions. Meet in public places. Tell a friend where you're going. Don't go to someone's home on a first date. And never send money to someone you've met online, regardless of the story they tell.

❓ Should I report gringo pricing to the police?

Gringo pricing isn't technically illegal — it's just annoying. The best response is to know approximate local prices and politely negotiate or walk away. Focus on reporting actual crimes (theft, fraud, assault) to the Fiscalia.

Know about a scam I didn't cover? Drop it in the comments to help other expats stay safe. And if this guide was useful, share it with someone who's about to visit or move to Colombia — this stuff is worth knowing before you arrive.