Key Takeaways

With scammers on the prowl for vulnerable travelers, wide-eyed tourists must do their due diligence to protect themselves. 

On April 21, this warning was echoed by the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic. The embassy highlighted how American tourists in unfamiliar parts of the country are particularly vulnerable to romance scams. It singled out dating apps as hot spots for tourist scams. 

Location-based dating apps show users the available matches in their area. These location-based dating apps are a convenient way for tourists and solo travelers to make quick connections on vacation, but they’re also a convenient way for scammers to connect with vulnerable or inexperienced travelers. 

There’s a key difference between a typical romance scammer and one who targets tourists. Instead of playing the long con, as is usually the case, a tourist scammer will work fast to gain the victim’s trust and put them into a vulnerable, and dangerous, situation. 

Dating App Violence Against American Tourists Is Rising Abroad

“Some people are actually more confident dating abroad,” a Bumble spokesperson told Condé Nast Traveler. A June 2023 survey confirmed the popularity of dating abroad; more than 50% of respondents said they’ve wanted to find romance while traveling abroad. 

Thirty percent of single solo travelers told Bumble that they use dating apps to make connections while traveling alone. 

But confidence can’t always protect tourists and travelers from deceitful individuals. There are still dangers on dating apps, even on those that conceal the users’ exact location.

“Scammers often target tourists through location-based dating apps and lure them into dangerous situations that may involve entrapment or assault,” the embassy warns. 

In 2024, the U.S. Embassy in Colombia released a similar warning to American tourists in response to an uptick of scamming incidents:

“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, for robbery by force or using sedatives to drug and rob individuals.” 

Colombia’s warning came in response to eight “suspicious deaths” of U.S. citizens, some of which were connected to the use of dating apps, according to the U.S. Embassy. 

The embassy explained how tourists are often lured to seemingly safe places like hotels, restaurants, and bars, only to be assaulted and robbed later on. “Numerous U.S. citizens in Colombia have been drugged, robbed, and even killed by their Colombian dates,” according to the embassy. 

Embassies and Dating Apps Want Tourists To Be Prepared 

The U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic suggested that single tourists should have a contingency plan that prioritizes their own safety and well-being. They should have emergency contact information on hand as well as know how to contact the embassy. 

And if an American tourist does become the victim of a romance scam, then they should feel safe reporting the crime to law enforcement. “These types of crimes routinely go underreported as victims are embarrassed and do not want to follow through with the judicial process,” according to the U.S. Embassy in Colombia. 

When U.S. embassies warn American tourists about the dangers of romance scams, they’re helping them stay safe and have fun on vacation. But dating apps have an equally important role to play when it comes to keeping tourists safe. 

Although popular apps like Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble all offer travel modes that restrict match options to those in the user’s chosen area, most apps don’t offer features that keep tourists safe while dating abroad. 

Dating apps have an important opportunity to take a firmer, more innovative approach to user safety when these travel modes are being used. Most travel modes offered by dating apps are available via a paid subscription, so investing in tourist safety may resonate with paying users. 

These dating apps can take a cue from embassies by offering educational resources on the risks of romance scams, along with tips to help tourists avoid becoming targets. Educating users empowers them and destigmatizes a crime that, all too often, flourishes in the dark.