from KTLA
8 American deaths in Colombia linked to online dating apps, U.S. Embassy warns
The U.S. State Department issued a safety warning Wednesday following the deaths of eight Americans who died under suspicious circumstances in recent months in Colombia.
The deaths occurred in Medellin between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31, 2023, and appear to be either homicides or “involuntary” drug overdoses, officials said.
The deaths are not believed to be specifically linked as each involved distinct circumstances, but several of the deaths point to a common factor: online dating apps.
Officials say criminals use the apps to lure tourists and visitors to meet in public places like hotels, restaurants and bars — places that are often considered safe in other parts of the world.
Several U.S. citizens have ended up getting assaulted, drugged, robbed or even killed by the people they had planned to meet for a date.