Medellin, Colombia – The U.S. State Department has issued a warning to American travelers advising them against using dating apps while traveling to Colombia. This comes after multiple “suspicious deaths” of U.S. citizens in the South American country, particularly in the city of Medellin.
Since January, Colombia has been labeled a country that Americans should “reconsider travel” to due to concerns about crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping risks. Some areas of the country, including its border regions, are labeled as “Do not travel.”
The advisory from the State Department comes after the reported “eight suspicious deaths of private U.S. citizens” in Medellin between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31, 2023. The deaths are believed to be either forced overdoses or suspected homicides, with some of them believed to be linked to the use of online dating applications.
The State Department advisory also mentioned an increase in reports of incidents involving dating apps as a lure over the last year, with a specific case involving a U.S. citizen who was kidnapped and later found dead after setting up a meeting through a dating app.
The advisory warned that criminals use dating apps to lure victims to public places where they are then assaulted and robbed. The incidents are reported to have taken place in various major cities in Colombia, and the State Department emphasized the routine underreporting of such incidents.
In response to these concerns, the advisory advised those using dating apps in Colombia to only meet in public places, avoid isolated locations, and share details of their plans with a friend or family member.
Additionally, the United States embassy in Colombia has reported an increase in crimes committed against foreign visitors, including a 200% increase in thefts and a 29% increase in violent deaths in the last trimester of 2023, with most of the violent death victims being U.S. citizens.