General Alert for tourists : area Chapinero in Bogota
A new treat is occuring nowadays to victimize tourists. An old guy presents himself as a tourist, asking a road or something else. This happens MID DAY in bright daylight! Meanwhile, a few feet away, another guy is observing and listening what answers are been given to the old man. Once the old man get a reply to make understand he is talking to a tourist, the "other" guy comes into action. Showing a false Police ID to you and the old man, and asks you and the old man to follow him for a police interrogation. The "other" guy is well dressed with a tie and everything, but in civil clothings. Presenting himself as an undercover agent to protect tourists and people against drug abuse and sales of drugs on the street. Once you follow him (you and the old guy), there will be explained, the police interrogation in the police station will take 2 upto 3 hours, and "if" you like, you can handle the interrogation a block (or something) away from the "fake" police station to win time. You are demanded to show your passport, open your bag (or anything you carry with you) for a check up. They take notice of your passport number, name, want your home address (a complete set up to make it look realistic). Others are into the game as well, once you make allegations you do not belief him. Same "gogo" with men having false police ID's. They take your passport and move on so you cannot see him anymore, return after a few minutes and tel you the station now is looking for information about your passport meanwhile they ask you how much money you have with you. Want you to show the money. They also ask the old man to do the same (who is standing next to you). As an example the old man gives a bunch of US dollars to the fake Police officer. He looks at the dollars and tells the old man, he will return in a few minutes with his money. And so he does. (it is to verify the serial numbers of the dollar bills). Next are YOU! You will do, as the old man (believe me! They are "VERY" convincing). Once you counted your money in front of them, they will take over the money (as they did with the old man, to check the numbers on the bills), then you can start to panic, but it is too late! He turns away from you (so you see his back and made a few passes away from you), you ask him to come back, because you do not longer trust the situation. But in the meantime they will have taken out money from your bundle you gave to him. (and not the outside bills, but from within the "inside"). He will return, to show trust in you! Hands over to you your money again. You will put away your money "immediately" without counting it, because you know, its not safe to show off your money on the street like that. He will tell you, that you "seem" ok, and will bring you back to the spot where you have been first contacted. Meanwhile telling you stories how dangerous it can be and to be alert for anything. You will get the hell out of there, because you feel very bad. Once returned to your hotel, and checking your money you WILL see, there is a bunch missing!
Contacting the Police afterwards, does not make a lot of sense. They are aware of this "new" treat, but cannot do a lot. These guys work very "efficient", "quickly on scene somewhere in the city", and vanish as quickly as they come into an area, to return to another aera the next day. Probably they only work for about 30 up to 60 minutes maximum, so they will not get caught.
BEWARE!
My advice: walk with a minimum of foreign money into this area. They do not seem to be interested in Colombian Pesos (I had 400. 000 Pesos on me and did not take away any bill. But search and take Dollars and Euro.
Stay calm, It is possible they have firearms, knives or something else with them.
When they talk about the police station they want to bring you, DO NOT follow them. Their story "may" alter, but be sure, there is NO police station, where they want to bring you. Ask them IMMEDIATELY to call a patrol car to bring you to this "so called" police station (and not an "ordinary" taxi or car) got it?
Remain in PUBLIC and on the STREET, do not go with them into a closed place away from the crowd. So you are at ANY moment surrounded by "other" people.
Stick on your opinion: YOU WANT an official investigator, in official police clothes and an official police car to bring you to the Police station! Be sure, they will LOOSE the game when you stick to this!
If possible, once you are in Bogota, put in your cell phone the official number of a police station, and or tourist police office. CAll them the moment you run into these guys, when they don't stop to bug you.
Tourist Police (Policía de turismo). Phones: (571) 337-4413. 243-1175
Metropolitan Police (Policía Metropolitana). Phone: 112
Centro Internacional
Carrera 13 #2 6-62.
Sede Policía de Turismo
Phones: (571) 337-4413. 243-1175
Office hours: From 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
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