7 Tourist Scams in Bogota

Two Brazilian tourists staying at an upscale Chapinero hotel met a woman at a bar in Zona T. She was friendly, spoke some English, and suggested they continue the night at another bar. Drinks arrived, and within 30 minutes both men felt disoriented and compliant. They woke up in their hotel room the next morning with no memory. Their watches, phones, laptops, wallets, and $8,000 in cash were gone. Bank records showed ATM withdrawals at four different machines through the night. Bogotá recorded 1,409 scopolamine poisoning episodes in 2023 — a record for the decade — with Chapinero's Zona T as the hotspot. Police dismantled the 'La 57' gang in 2024, which used female accomplices to lure victims and waitstaff to spike drinks in cheap bars throughout Chapinero and Teusaquillo.

A backpacker walking through La Candelaria was approached by two men in civilian clothes who showed police-looking badges and demanded to see his passport and wallet to 'check for counterfeit currency.' Intimidated, he handed over his wallet. One man counted the bills while the other kept him distracted with questions. They returned the wallet with a receipt and told him to go to a police station to exchange 'suspect' bills. By the time he checked, $300 was missing from his wallet. World Nomads and InLovelyBlue document this as one of Bogotá's most common tourist scams. Variations include fake officers issuing fake fines or demanding to inspect backpack contents, pocketing valuables in the process.

A tourist standing at a TransMilenio station was texting with her phone at chest height. As the bus doors opened and the crowd surged, someone grabbed the phone from her hands and disappeared into the mass of boarding passengers in under two seconds. Another traveler had her crossbody bag slashed with a blade while walking on Carrera Séptima — the thief on a bicycle grabbed the phone from the cut bag and pedaled away. Colombians use the expression 'no dar papaya' — meaning 'don't give papaya' or don't make yourself an easy target. Official crime data shows robbery rates in Bogotá have risen significantly since 2020, with criminals becoming increasingly brazen, including armed robberies at upmarket cafes.

A tourist hailed a taxi on the street in Chapinero after leaving a restaurant. Minutes into the ride, two additional men entered the taxi at a red light. They demanded his phone passcode, banking app credentials, and ATM cards. Over the next three hours, they drove him to multiple ATMs across the city, forcing him to withdraw the daily maximum at each — totaling over $2,000. They also transferred money through his banking apps. He was eventually dropped off in an unfamiliar neighborhood at 3 AM. This is the 'paseo millonario' or 'millionaire ride' — one of Bogotá's most feared crimes. Recent cases show assailants beating victims and holding them for hours while draining accounts through both ATMs and digital payment apps.

A tourist browsing near the Emerald Trade Center on Avenida Jiménez was approached by a friendly man who opened a small velvet pouch and showed him several brilliant green stones. He claimed they were high-quality Colombian emeralds being sold below market price because he was a miner selling directly. The tourist bought a 'premium' stone for $200, expecting it to be worth several thousand. A jeweler at home confirmed it was worth about $5 — the stone's color had been enhanced with green lacquer painted on the underside, a common technique to make low-grade or synthetic stones appear valuable. World Nomads warns that buying from street dealers in Bogotá is never recommended.

A group joined a free walking tour in La Candelaria. While gathered around the guide at Chorro de Quevedo listening to a history lesson, a woman in the group felt someone bump against her from behind. She assumed it was the crowd. Twenty minutes later, she reached for her wallet in her daypack — it was gone, along with her backup credit card. Free walking tours in La Candelaria attract large groups where attention is focused on the guide, creating ideal conditions for pickpockets who join the tour or work alongside it. The area around Chorro de Quevedo and Plaza Bolívar is especially problematic due to narrow streets and crowded gathering points.

A solo male traveler matched with an attractive woman on a dating app while visiting Bogotá. She suggested meeting at a bar she knew in Chapinero. After a couple of drinks, she suggested going to his hotel. At the hotel, she excused herself to the bathroom. He woke up hours later — groggy and confused with no memory — to find his laptop, phone, camera, wallet, and watch gone. His bank account showed wire transfers he had no memory of authorizing. ASIS International reported that dating app attacks targeting tourists in Colombia have become a significant security concern, with scopolamine or similar drugs used to incapacitate victims. The Bogotá Post documented police dismantling gangs that used dating apps as their primary recruitment tool.