Colombia- Eight 'suspicious' deaths of US men linked to dating apps, Medellin, 2023

[dotr]

Eight 'suspicious' US deaths in Colombia linked to dating apps

The US embassy warns criminals are using the dating apps to rob and sometimes kill foreign tourists.

www.bbc.com

''The US embassy in Bogota said some victims were drugged and robbed after meeting people on these apps.

The incidents often occurred in cities like Medellin, Cartagena and Bogota where US tourism has picked up.

Travellers are being told to avoid isolated locations like hotel rooms.

Criminals use the apps to lure victims to public spaces like restaurants and bars, where they can be assaulted, robbed and even killed, sometimes by the person they meet, the embassy warned.

In the final three months of 2023, the number of robberies of foreign visitors increased by 200% and deaths by 29%, including the eight Americans who died between 1 November and 31 December.''

20th January 2024

'Drugged, robbed, killed': The city catching US tourists in dating trap

Relatives of men killed in Medellin after meeting local women for dates are now searching for answers.

www.bbc.com

'The US state department said it was aware of a gang in the city that previously used dating apps to isolate victims before abducting and killing them. But it's unclear if a gang was behind the US deaths.'

'In the first 10 months of 2023, Medellin's tourism observatory had already recorded 32 violent killings of foreigners in the city - including at least 12 Americans and three from the United Kingdom - a 40% increase from the previous year.''

'Carlos Calle, the former director of the city's tourism observatory, said it's common for criminals to drug tourists with scopolamine, an odourless substance known as "Devil's Breath". The US embassy also warned about the drug, which sedates victims for up to 24 hours.''

 

[dotr]

Security Alert: Risks of Using Online Dating Applications

co.usembassy.gov

''Over the last year, the Embassy has seen an increase in reports of incidents involving the use of online dating applications to lure victims, typically foreigners, for robbery by force or using sedatives to drug and rob individuals. The Embassy regularly receives reports of these types of incidents occurring in major cities, including, but not limited to, Medellin, Cartagena, and Bogota. These types of crimes routinely go underreported as victims are embarrassed and do not want to follow through with the judicial process.
U.S. citizens should be vigilant, maintain heightened situational awareness, and incorporate strong personal security practices into their activities.
The full advisory is available at Colombia International Travel Information
Actions to Take:

• Be cautious if using online dating apps in Colombia.
• If meeting with a stranger, you should strongly consider meeting only in public places and avoiding isolated locations, such as residences or hotel rooms, where crimes are most likely to occur.
• If inviting an individual that you just met to your residence or hotel room, speak to your door attendant/concierge beforehand and establish a policy as to what information your new visitor should provide before being authorized entry (photo of identification, etc.) and what process should be followed when your visitor departs.
• Tell a friend or family member of your plans, including where you are going, details of the person you are meeting, and the app you used to meet them. Victims who are targeted via online dating applications tend to have their electronic devices stolen which often contain all evidence of communication with the assailants.

• Do not physically resist any robbery attempt. Victims of crime who resist robbery are more likely to be killed.
• Trust your instincts – if something does not feel right, do not hesitate to walk away from a situation.''

 

[dotr]

Jan 17, 2024 #nbcnews #colombia #datingapps
The U.S. embassy in Colombia is urging Americans not to use dating apps while in the country after a string of deaths in tourist hotspots. Many criminals are using the sites to lure victims, according to officials.

 

[azure]

I went on a Tinder date in Cartagena in 2019 and it was really nice actually, I went out with a group of Norwegian financiers living in Manhattan. I suppose women are less often targets than men in these particular scams.

 

[dotr]

By Nicole Acosta January 22, 2024

American in Colombia Was Lured to His Death on Dating App, Say Prosecutors, as 4 Suspects Charged

Four suspects have been charged in connection with the disappearance and death of a Minnesota comedian and activist Tou Ger Xiong, who went missing while visiting Colombia last month.

people.com

Tou Ger Xiong. PHOTO: TOU GER XIONG/FACEBOOK

• 'Four suspects, including a teenage boy, have been arrested and charged with aggravated kidnapping for extortion and aggravated homicide in the death of 50-year-old Tou Ger Xiong
• Xiong, a well-known activist in the Twin Cities, Minn., Hmong American community, was found dead in Medellín on Dec. 11, just one day after he had gone on a date with a woman he met on social media
• Local prosecutors believe Xiong was lured by the suspects using a dating app and held for ransom'

'Now, the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá is warning U.S. citizens about an increase in reports of incidents involving the use of online dating apps to "lure victims, typically foreigners, for robbery by force or using sedatives to drug and rob individuals."

 

[dotr]

Canadian man latest in slew of Colombia mystery deaths

A 74-year-old Canadian man is one of the latest casualties in a rash of mysterious deaths of foreigners in Medellin, Colombia.

torontosun.com

Jul 19, 2024 rbbm
''Cops say Robert Frederick Good was discovered lying dead, face up, in his hotel room bed on July 6 by staff.
He had not been heard from for several days, police noted.
Good had been staying in the fun-filled El Poblado neighbourhood. The area is popular with tourists including American and Canadian ex-pats who vacation or winter there''
''Detectives have speculated that some of the suspicious deaths are linked to the equally booming sex trade in the city. Reports said that many from Escobar’s sinister network are involved in sex trafficking and cops turn a blind eye.

Medellin authorities cautioned travellers to be aware of the dangers of using dating apps used as hooks to lure victims. Canadians and Americans are particularly vulnerable because of their presumed wealth.'''

 

[buyerninety]

This danger is real, there's enough experiences
from travelling youtubers experiencing/checking
this that you don't have to look for any one
particular video, just input 'passport bros' &
'Colombia' to inform yourself.

 

[dotr]

This danger is real, there's enough experiences
from travelling youtubers experiencing/checking
this that you don't have to look for any one
particular video, just input 'passport bros' &
'Colombia' to inform yourself.

Passport Bros Reportedly Getting Killed In Colombia After Trying To Find Women

Focusing on women and celebrating what makes them so unique, Evie Magazine helps women seek truth and find beauty...the kind that really matters.

www.eviemagazine.com

2024
'' According to WSJ, Xiong was enjoying the second-largest city in the country and was "stock trading by day and fine dining and dance clubs by night."

However, just hours after Xiong's date on Dec. 10, he reached out to family and friends for a $2,000 ransom, claiming he had been kidnapped. The next day – Xiong's lifeless body, brutalized and found with multiple stab wounds and bruises – was discovered discarded off a 260-foot cliff in the lush, wooded landscape of Medellín.''

''So unless we warn "passport bros" (the term used to describe men seeking foreign women) of the dangers of pursuing partnership or sex in countries like Colombia, more will find themselves getting used, or worse, killed.''