What is the scopolamine dating-app scam?

The dominant pattern targeting foreign tourists in Medellín: a match on Tinder, Bumble, or Grindr invites the visitor to a private apartment, restaurant, or hotel. A drink is dosed with scopolamine (burundanga) — a powerful incapacitating drug. The victim wakes hours later with phone, cards, and cash gone; some have died from overdose. US Embassy has issued repeated specific warnings since 2022. The protocol: never meet a dating-app match in a private space on a first meeting; only well-known public bars in El Poblado/Laureles; never let your drink out of sight; never accept invitations back to a private home on first contact.

What should I do if I think I've been drugged or robbed?

Immediately: get to a hospital. Clínica Las Vegas in El Poblado is the standard tourist medical reference — English-speaking, ICU capacity, treats scopolamine-incident cases regularly. Call 123 for police or get to the Tourist Police office in El Poblado (English-speaking). Report to your embassy: US Embassy Bogotá +57 601 275 2000 has dedicated Medellín tourist-victim support; UK Embassy Bogotá +57 601 326 8300. Cancel cards immediately. If the incident was through a dating app, report to the app provider and to Colombian police's dating-app-incident unit.

Common Tourist Scams in Medellín (and How to Avoid Them)

By The Kakapo Editorial Team · Last updated 2026-05-28 · Part of the Medellín safety guide

FAQ

What is the scopolamine dating-app scam?: The dominant pattern targeting foreign tourists in Medellín: a match on Tinder, Bumble, or Grindr invites the visitor to a private apartment, restaurant, or hotel. A drink is dosed with scopolamine (burundanga) — a powerful incapacitating drug. The victim wakes hours later with phone, cards, and cash gone; some have died from overdose. US Embassy has issued repeated specific warnings since 2022. The protocol: never meet a dating-app match in a private space on a first meeting; only well-known public bars in El Poblado/Laureles; never let your drink out of sight; never accept invitations back to a private home on first contact.
What should I do if I think I've been drugged or robbed?: Immediately: get to a hospital. Clínica Las Vegas in El Poblado is the standard tourist medical reference — English-speaking, ICU capacity, treats scopolamine-incident cases regularly. Call 123 for police or get to the Tourist Police office in El Poblado (English-speaking). Report to your embassy: US Embassy Bogotá +57 601 275 2000 has dedicated Medellín tourist-victim support; UK Embassy Bogotá +57 601 326 8300. Cancel cards immediately. If the incident was through a dating app, report to the app provider and to Colombian police's dating-app-incident unit.

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Sources

Scores are the Kakapo Safety Index — compiled from government travel advisories and public crime, health and transit data. All data sources.