The U.S. Embassy in Colombia is warning Americans to be more vigilant when using online dating apps in the South American country. If they can, they are being urged to avoid these applications as they are being linked to some mysterious death cases.
Many people already know that criminals are taking advantage of online dating apps. These include hackers, stalkers, and other malicious actors.
But, one of the scariest people you can encounter on dating applications are those who kill other individuals. This is what's happening in Colombia as of writing.
If you're one of the Americans planning to visit there (or already there), here's what the US Embassy said.
Romantic Killer? US Embassy Warns About Using Dating Apps in Colombia
According to Fox News' latest report, the US Embassy in Colombia (Bogota) warns Americans who are traveling to the South American country. Officials warned that they recorded eight suspicious deaths involving private U.S. residents.
"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," said the embassy.
It added that these criminals lure foreigners to rob them. They are either using force to steal their belongings or using sedatives to drug and rob them.
"Numerous US citizens in Colombia have been drugged, robbed, and even killed by their Colombian dates," said the US Embassy in Colombia.
US embassy officials said that they are seeing sharp increases in crimes against foreigners in the South American country. The US State Department announced that thefts committed against foreign visitors in Colombia increased by 200% in the third trimester of 2023.
Officials added that they saw a 29% increase in violent deaths of foreigners in Colombia, as reported by KTLA 5. Although most crimes against foreigners have different motives and outcomes, the US embassy said many of them have one thing in common: the involvement of online dating apps.
Read Also: How to Know If Your Partner is Cheating: Here are the 'Serial Cheater' Signs to Check For
How To Spot Killers on Online Dating Apps
There's nothing wrong with trying to flirt while going on a vacation. However, since you don't know almost 100% of the people you meet on online dating apps, it is important to be vigilant.
Remember, many criminals can easily fake their identities and manipulate their victims using social media platforms. Here are some tips you can follow to keep yourself safe when using dating apps:
- Google your dating app matches. You can save their photos and use Google Images to find them, search for their names, or reverse image search on your iPhone or Android.
- Since criminal records are usually made public, you can search court documents and check if their names are stated.
- Before accepting their invitation to meet in person, make sure you can video call them to see their real faces.
