Common scams in Colombia

The scams you'll actually run into

1. Paseo millonario (unbooked-taxi robbery)

   A street-hailed taxi picks up accomplices and drives you between ATMs forcing withdrawals, sometimes holding you overnight to reset the daily limit.

   H.A.C.K. · Kill-Switch

   The move — Only use apps (Uber, DiDi, Cabify) or a taxi your hotel calls. Never flag one down, and share your trip with someone.

2. Scopolamine (“devil's breath”) drugging

   A drink, a handed cigarette, a “sample” of perfume, or even a business card blown toward your face is used to dose you; victims become compliant and later can't remember handing over cash, cards and phones. Often via a friendly new acquaintance, sometimes on dating apps.

   H.A.C.K. · Comfort

   The move — Don't accept drinks, food, gum, cigarettes or anything to smell from someone you've just met. Meet dating-app matches in daylight in a public place and tell someone where you are.

3. Fake police “drug or currency check”

   Men in plain clothes flash a badge, claim to be anti-narcotics police, and search your wallet and bag for “fake dollars”, palming cash and cards.

   H.A.C.K. · Authority

   The move — Real police won't inspect your money in the street. Say you'll go to the station, keep your wallet, and call 123 to verify.

4. Emerald and coffee “investment”

   In Bogotá, a friendly contact offers cheap emeralds to resell abroad, or a “direct from the farm” coffee deal requiring upfront payment. The goods are near-worthless or never arrive.

   H.A.C.K. · Comfort

   The move — There is no resale opportunity. Never buy goods to flip on someone's promise, and never prepay a stranger.

5. Currency short-change and torn notes

   Vendors and drivers give change short, pass torn or old notes that shops won't accept, or exploit confusion between 20,000 and 50,000 peso notes.

   H.A.C.K. · Comfort

   The move — Count change before moving off, refuse damaged notes, and pay with smaller denominations where you can.

What these scams have in common

Most Colombia scams lean on Comfort. Whatever the trick, the way out is the same three moves — Pause · Assess · Talk: stop before you pay, hand over a document or follow someone; ask what the request really wants; then say it out loud to someone you trust, or your bank on the number from your card.

Colombia travel-scam FAQ

Official travel advisories for Colombia

Fraud and scam wording pulled from the official Canadian and New Zealand travel advisories. Use the government sources for current travel decisions.

Scam guides for nearby destinations

H.A.C.K. — the four pressure tactics

Every scam on this page is tagged with the tactic it uses. Recognise the tactic, not the trick.

H Hurry

Urgency. A deadline, a countdown or a “right now” that leaves no time to check.

A Authority

Officialdom. A badge, a title, a uniform or an official-sounding request you feel you can't question.

C Comfort

Familiarity. A friendly local, a routine or an emotion that makes the request feel safer than it is.

K Kill-Switch

The cut-off. The moment you're pushed to pay, click, hand over a document or follow someone — before you can verify.

The way out of all four: Pause · Assess · Talk.