Scams in Colombia 2026 — Rental Fraud, Fake Police, ATM Skimmers, and More

The biggest financial risk for expats in Colombia is not robbery — it is scams. Rental deposit fraud, taxi overcharging, ATM skimmers, and fake police stops cost foreigners money every single week. This guide covers every common scam so you can recognize and avoid them.

Rental Deposit Scams

How the rental scam works:

1. An apartment listing appears on Facebook, Airbnb, or a WhatsApp group at a suspiciously good price
2. The "landlord" communicates fluently in English and is very responsive
3. They pressure you to send a deposit quickly because "other people are interested"
4. They provide bank account details or request a Nequi transfer
5. After receiving the money, they block you on WhatsApp and disappear

How to protect yourself:

• Never pay before seeing the apartment in person. No exceptions. If the landlord cannot show you the apartment, walk away.
• Verify ownership: Ask to see the predial (property tax receipt) with their name on it. Cross-reference with their cedula.
• Use Airbnb for the first 30 days: Airbnb's payment protection eliminates deposit scam risk for your initial landing period
• Walk neighborhoods and look for "Se Arrienda" signs: Direct from the building is harder to fake than online listings
• Get referrals: Ask at language meetups, expat events, and established community members for landlord recommendations

Taxi Overcharging

Foreign accents are a signal to some taxi drivers that they can charge more. Common tactics:

• Rigged meter: The taximeter runs faster than it should. Compare the fare to what your rideshare app estimates for the same route.
• Long route: The driver takes an unnecessarily long detour. Use Google Maps to follow the route in real time.
• Inflated flat fare: In cities where negotiating is common (Cartagena), drivers quote 2-3x the actual fare to foreigners. Ask your hotel or a local what the fare should be before hailing a cab.
• "No change": The driver claims they cannot break a 50,000 COP note, forcing you to overpay. Carry small bills.

The simplest solution: use InDrive or Uber instead of hailing taxis on the street. The app shows the route and fare transparently.

ATM Skimmers and Traps

• Card skimmers: Devices attached to the card slot that copy your card data. Before inserting your card, tug on the card reader. If it feels loose or looks different from other ATMs, do not use it.
• Shoulder surfing: Someone watches you enter your PIN. Always cover the keypad with your other hand.
• Cash trapping: A device prevents the cash from being dispensed. You think the ATM malfunctioned and walk away. The scammer then retrieves your cash. If the ATM does not dispense cash, do not leave — call your bank immediately and report the issue to the ATM's bank.
• Distraction theft: Someone "helpfully" points out something while an accomplice takes your card or cash. Do not engage with anyone while using an ATM.

Fake Police Stops

This scam involves people posing as police officers (often in civilian clothes claiming to be plainclothes police) who stop you on the street and demand to search your wallet or bag for "counterfeit money" or "drugs."

• Real police carry ID: Ask to see their placa (police identification). Real officers will show it without hesitation.
• Real police do not ask for cash: If they ask you to hand over money or want to "inspect" your wallet, it is a scam.
• Offer to go to a CAI: If you feel unsafe, suggest walking together to the nearest CAI (small police station, found every few blocks in urban areas). Scammers will not agree to this.
• Do not hand over your phone: A "police officer" who asks to see your phone may run away with it. Offer to show your documents at a police station instead.

Romance Scams

Red flags that apply to both online and in-person encounters:

• Any request for money, no matter how small or how good the reason sounds
• Sob stories about family emergencies, medical bills, or unpaid rent
• Lavish attention and affection very early in the relationship
• Reluctance to video call or meet in public places
• "Business opportunities" that require your investment
• Pressure to send money via Western Union, Nequi, or cryptocurrency

WhatsApp Scams

WhatsApp is Colombia's primary communication channel, which makes it the primary channel for scams too.

• Account takeover: You receive a message saying "I accidentally sent my verification code to your number, can you forward it?" This is an attempt to steal your WhatsApp account. Never share verification codes.
• Fake friend in trouble: A message from an unknown number claims to be a friend who changed their number and needs money urgently. Call your actual friend on their known number before sending anything.
• Fake bank alerts: Messages that look like Bancolombia or Davivienda alerts asking you to click a link. Banks never send links via WhatsApp.
• Prize notifications: "You won a Baloto prize" or "You have been selected for a special promotion." These always lead to requests for personal information or advance fees.

Street Scams

• Mustard/sauce trick: Someone squirts a substance on your clothes, then an accomplice offers to "help" clean it while pickpocketing you. If something gets on your clothes, move away from the area before dealing with it.
• Shoe shine distraction: An aggressive shoe shiner grabs your foot and starts cleaning, then demands an inflated payment. Say "no gracias" firmly and walk away before they start.
• Fake tour guides: People offer "free" walking tours or "special access" to attractions, then demand large tips. Use established tour companies with reviews.
• Money exchange scams: Street money changers in tourist areas offer good rates but use sleight of hand to short-change you. Use Wise or ATMs instead.

Cryptocurrency Scams

Colombia has a growing crypto community, and scammers target foreigners who want to convert large amounts of crypto to COP or vice versa.

• Peer-to-peer trades that require you to send crypto first with a promise to pay cash later
• "Investment opportunities" in crypto mining or trading platforms with guaranteed returns
• Fake crypto exchanges or OTC desks that take your money and disappear
• WhatsApp groups promoting "secret" trading strategies

If you need to convert crypto to COP, use established exchanges (Bitso, Binance P2P with escrow) rather than informal contacts.

How to Protect Yourself

• Verify everything independently: Do not trust information provided by the person selling, renting, or offering something. Check property records, business registrations, and references yourself.
• Trust your gut: If a deal seems too good to be true — an apartment at half the market rate, a guaranteed investment return, a beautiful stranger who loves you after one day — it is a scam.
• Never send money under pressure: Scammers always create urgency. "Other people are interested." "The deal expires today." "My family needs help right now." Take time to verify before sending anything.
• Join expat communities: Established expat Facebook groups and WhatsApp chats regularly warn members about active scams and share the names/photos of known scammers.
• File police reports: Even if recovery is unlikely, a denuncia at the Fiscalia creates a record and helps future victims.