U.S. urges Americans in Colombia to avoid dating apps after 8 deaths
Summary
TLDRThe transcript describes a news report about a warning from the U.S. Embassy in Colombia regarding the dangers of using dating apps while traveling in the country. Eight American citizens have died under suspicious circumstances recently while visiting Colombia, possibly linked to meeting people through dating apps. An example is given of Tou Ger Xiong, a Minnesota artist and activist who was kidnapped and killed in Colombia in December 2022 after arranging a date. The Embassy has seen an increase in incidents involving dating apps used to lure victims, often foreigners, into situations where they are robbed or drugged. Major cities in Colombia have seen a rise in murders of foreign visitors. Most victims were American, and Americans make up a large portion of Colombia's tourism industry. The Embassy is advising travelers not to physically resist if being robbed, as that makes people more likely to be killed. They recommend meeting in public places, telling others about plans and who you'll be with, and trusting instincts if something feels unsafe. Despite the warnings, tragedies continue and leave families mourning from afar without answers or justice in some cases.
Takeaways
- 8 Americans have died under suspicious circumstances at a popular tourist destination in Colombia
- The US Embassy is urging travelers not to use dating apps in Colombia due to criminals using them to lure victims
- Victims are often drugged, robbed, or even killed after being contacted via dating apps
- At least 8 recent American deaths in Colombia may be linked to dating app use
- Tou Ger Xiong, an American artist, was kidnapped and killed in Colombia after asking his brother for money during a dating app meetup gone wrong
- Officials have seen an increase in incidents involving dating apps used to lure foreign victims for robbery or drugging/robbing
- Murders of foreign visitors in Colombia went up 29% in late 2023 compared to 2022
- US citizens made up most of the foreign victims killed in Colombia recently
- Americans make up 30% of foreign travelers in Colombia, drawn in by its beauty despite the dangers
- No arrests have been announced in Tou Ger Xiong's case, leaving loved ones to mourn from thousands of miles away
Q & A
What warning is the US Embassy in Colombia giving American travelers?
-The Embassy is urging Americans not to use dating apps while visiting Colombia due to criminals using them to lure, rob, and sometimes kill victims.
How many recent American deaths in Colombia may be linked to dating app use?
-At least 8 recent American deaths in Colombia may be linked to dating app use and meetings gone wrong.
What happened to Tou Ger Xiong after using a dating app in Colombia?
-Tou Ger Xiong was kidnapped and killed in Colombia after asking his brother for money during a dangerous dating app meetup where he was unable to pay the ransom.
What has happened to murders of foreign visitors in Colombia in late 2023?
-Murders of foreign visitors in Colombia went up 29% in late 2023 compared to 2022.
What percentage of foreign travelers in Colombia are Americans?
-Americans make up 30% of foreign travelers in Colombia.
Have any arrests been made in Tou Ger Xiong's death?
-No arrests have been announced in Tou Ger Xiong's case so far.
How can travelers stay safer when meeting people from dating apps?
-Go to public places, tell friends/family details about your plans and the person you're meeting, and trust your instincts - if something feels off, get to safety.
What has happened to crime against foreign visitors in major Colombian cities?
-Crime and violence against foreign visitors in major Colombian cities has been increasing.
How are dating apps used to target foreign victims in Colombia?
-Criminals use dating apps to lure foreign victims into meetups where they are then drugged, robbed, or subjected to violence.
Even with the warnings, why do Americans still visit Colombia?
-Americans are drawn to Colombia's beauty as a travel destination despite the recent dangers - they make up 30% of foreign tourists there.
Outlines
U.S. Embassy Warns Against Using Dating Apps in Colombia
The U.S. Embassy in Colombia is urging travelers not to use dating apps in the country after at least 8 Americans died under suspicious circumstances. Criminals are using apps to lure victims and rob, drug, or even kill them. The deaths may be linked to dating app use.
Family Mourns Death of Minnesota Man Kidnapped and Killed in Colombia
Tou Ger Xiong, an artist from Minnesota, was kidnapped and killed in Colombia in December 2023 after asking his brother for money while on a trip there. He had been using dating apps and was lured on a date, then killed when he couldn't pay the ransom. His body was found covered in stab wounds.
Colombian Officials See Rise in Dating App Crimes Against Foreigners
Colombian officials report an increase in crimes involving dating apps used to lure foreign victims, especially Americans who make up 30% of foreign travelers there. Major cities have seen a 29% rise in murders of foreigners. Most victims were robbed after being drugged, but some like Tou Ger Xiong were killed.
U.S. Embassy Advice on Staying Safe
The U.S. Embassy advises meeting online contacts in public places and telling friends/family about plans and contacts. If robbed, don't resist and risk being killed. Trust instincts and get away if something feels wrong. But despite warnings, dating app crimes persist.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡dating apps
💡tourist destination
💡ransom
💡drugged
💡robbery
💡foreigners
💡sedatives
💡unanswered questions
💡crime
💡victims
Highlights
8 Americans died under suspicious circumstances at a popular tourist destination in Colombia.
The U.S. Embassy urged travelers not to use dating apps in Colombia due to criminals using the apps to lure victims.
At least 8 American deaths in Colombia are possibly linked to dating apps.
Officials believe criminals use dating apps to lure foreign victims to robberies by force or drugging.
An American artist was kidnapped during a date in Colombia, killed when he couldn't pay ransom.
Murders of foreign visitors in Colombia went up 29% compared to previous year.
Most victims were U.S. citizens, who make up 30% of Colombia's foreign travelers.
Behind Colombia's beauty is tragedy and unanswered questions for victims' families.
U.S. Embassy advises meeting online contacts in public places and telling others about your plans.
Don't physically resist robbery in Colombia, more likely to be killed.
Trust instincts - if something feels off, get away.
Advisories remain despite precautions, dangers persist in Colombia.
Colombia a popular destination for Americans, big tourism contributor.
Officials have seen an increase in dating app incidents targeting foreigners.
No arrests announced in some cases, leaving families mourning from afar.
Transcripts
STAY OFF DATING APPS AFTER
EIGHT AMERICANS DIED UNDER
SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES AT A
POPULAR TOURIST DESTINATION.
PUT BACK TONIGHT AN URGENT
WARNING FOR AMERICANS VISITING
COLUMBIA AFTER A STRING OF
DEATHS.
THE U.S. EMBASSY URGING
TRAVELERS NOT TO USE DATING
APPS IN THE COUNTRY WRITING IN
A SECURITY ALERT, CRIMINALS ARE
USING THE SITE TO LURE VICTIMS
WITH MANY U.S. CITIZENS
DRUGGED, ROBBED AND EVEN
KILLED.
CONFIRMING THE DEATHS OF AT
LEAST EIGHT AMERICANS TRAVELING
THERE, POSSIBLY LINKED TO THE
APPS.
>> I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW I FEEL
RIGHT NOW.
>> Reporter: A SITUATION ALL
TOO-FAMILIAR FOR THE FAMILY OF
-- ARTIST AND ACTIVIST FROM
MINNESOTA WHO WE FIRST REPORTED
ON LAST MONTH.
HE HAD BEEN TRAVELING IN
COLOMBIA IN DECEMBER WHEN HE
CALLED HIS BROTHER OUT OF THE
BLUE, ASKING FOR MONEY.
>> THIS TIME HE SAID YOU GOT A
COUPLE THOUSAND?
I SAID, YEAH, NO PROBLEM, WHEN
YOU WANT IT?
HE SAID I WANT IT NOW.
I'VE GOT A SITUATION NOW.
I GO, I CAN DO THAT.
>> Reporter: SOON AFTER HE
STOPPED RESPONDING TO THEIR MESSAGES, HE WAS FOUND DEAD.
MESSAGES, HE WAS FOUND DEAD.
HE WAS KIDNAPPED DURING A DATE
AND KILLED WHEN HE COULD NOT
MAKE THE RANSOM PAYMENT AND HIS
BODY WAS FOUND COVERED IN STAB
WOUNDS.
>> I WAS CONFUSED.
I DON'T KNOW WHY -- WHAT THE
MOTIVE IS.
>> Reporter: TOU GER XIONG HAS
VISITED COLUMBIA IN THE PAST,
POSTING PHOTOS AND VIDEO WITH
AN UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN.
OFFICIALS DO NOT BELIEVE ALL
EIGHT OF THE DEATHS ARE LINKED
AND THEY SAY THEY HAVE SEEN AN
INCREASE OF INCIDENTS INVOLVING
DATING APPS TO LURE VICTIMS,
TYPICALLY FOREIGNERS, TO
ROBBERY BY FORCE OR USING
SEDATIVES TO DRUG AND ROB
INDIVIDUALS.
MAJOR CITIES.
MURDERS OF FOREIGN VISITORS
WENT UP BY 29% IN THE LATTER
PART OF 2023 COMPARED TO THE
PREVIOUS YEAR ACCORDING TO THE
EMBASSY AND MOST OF THE VICTIMS
WERE U.S. CITIZENS.
IT'S A POPULAR DESTINATION FOR
AMERICANS WHO ARE BIG
CONTRIBUTORS TO COLUMBIA'S
TOURISM INDUSTRY MAKING UP 30%
OF FOREIGN TRAVELERS IN THE
FIRST HALF OF LAST YEAR BUT
BEHIND THAT BEAUTY, TRAGEDY AND
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS FOR
FAMILIES LIKE TOU GER XIONG'S,
A CASE WHERE NO ARRESTS HAVE
BEEN ANNOUNCED. LOVED ONES ARE LEFT TO MOURN
LOVED ONES ARE LEFT TO MOURN
FROM THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY.
>> WITH THAT, STEVEN ROMO JOINS
US.
WHAT KIND OF ADVICE IS THE U.S.
EMBASSY GIVING TRAVELERS?
A LOT OF PEOPLE TRAVEL TO
COLUMBIA.
>> THEY DO.
THE ADVICE APPLIES TO ANYWHERE
YOU ARE TRAVELING.
WHEN YOU ARE MEETING PEOPLE
ONLINE, GO TO A PUBLIC PLACE.
ALSO TELL FRIENDS AND FAMILY
YOUR PLANS.
WHERE YOU ARE GOING.
DETAILS ABOUT THE PERSON AND
EVEN WHAT APP YOU USE.
THIS ONE IS MORE CRIME ORIENTED.
ORIENTED.
THEY SAY DON'T RESIST
PHYSICALLY IF YOU ARE BEING
ROBBED.
PEOPLE WHO DO THAT ARE MORE
LIKELY TO BE KILLED AND IN
PRETTY MUCH ALL SITUATIONS,
TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS AND IF
SOMETHING FEELS OFF, JUST GET
AWAY.
BUT WITH ALL THE ADVISORIES AND
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