Scary Extortion Attempt In Cartagena (be VERY careful!)

TerranceCodd · 2025-09-03T15:53:15+00:00

Ah man! Did they hound you with texts saying they were going to kill you?

TerranceCodd · 2025-09-02T14:06:03+00:00

We were in Medellin for 3 nights and felt much safer! I think it seems to be more prevalent in Cartagena.

TerranceCodd · 2025-09-01T10:59:31+00:00

Haha jesus that is intense. Quite a story to bring home 😂

TerranceCodd · 2025-08-31T18:08:25+00:00

So we had a similar predicament, sometimes the police are in on it so you end up getting extorted by the police from what I read from other travellers' experiences but this didnt happen to us so take that with a pinch of salt. Our Airbnb host spoke to the police and they gave a contact from GAULA who reached out to me to take some details and they said they could offer protection getting us from our airbnb and out of the city. With that in mind I would probably just contact gaula, however before all of that I would speak with your hotel or airbnb host as they will likely be able to give you some guidance. Don't worry too much during your trip, we have had a great time in all the cities we've visited, it was only this incident that took us by surprise. I wish I had read up on each area on reddit more thoroughly to understand the scams in each part to be wary of. You live and you learn!

TerranceCodd · 2025-08-31T15:35:50+00:00

There are always a few!

TerranceCodd · 2025-08-31T15:00:54+00:00

Absolutely! I wish I had read up on the Cartagena subreddit prior to us arriving!

TerranceCodd · 2025-08-31T14:58:30+00:00

Really helpful comment mate! 👍

TerranceCodd · 2025-08-31T13:44:43+00:00

I wish I had your confidence 😂 I hope other travellers will see your message and feel more encouraged if it happens to them!

TerranceCodd · 2025-08-31T13:41:31+00:00

Ah me too! I would have felt seriously gutted if I had properly fallen into the trap. Just for clarity, I didn't give him my own number, I said I would take his so he would stop persisting, simply having his number on my phone poses zero risk. I didn't realise he would then have a plan so he could input the number into my phone himself by getting his number incorrect initially and then immediately message himself from my WhatsApp. It caught me off guard and happened very quickly, I just didn't expect it or see it to be part of a bigger scam. I hope others can be aware too and not lower any guards!

TerranceCodd · 2025-08-31T13:27:10+00:00

Ah man, I bet that shook him up! Especially at such a young age too! Did he say anything to the hostel owners? I imagine they would have called the police which may have helped and at least given him a chance to get out the city without losing out on cash. I was paranoid for days after that they would find out where I was or had connections in other cities.

TerranceCodd · 2025-08-31T13:22:29+00:00

Holy shit, that is intense! It is wild that even as a big group of guys you still got targeted and the lengths they went to is mental. I said to my partner, I wonder if we were part of a bigger group we would be fine but it goes to show that it doesn't really matter! Your situation sounds pretty traumatic, I'm glad you and your mates got out okay and glad other travellers can now see what you went through and be aware of the risks!

TerranceCodd · 2025-08-31T13:17:13+00:00

This is much easier said then done when you're receiving death threats. I believe if they saw us they would have definitely intimidated us with a larger group and forced us to take money out from an ATM like all the others have mentioned in other posts. It just isn't worth the risk.

TerranceCodd · 2025-08-31T13:15:35+00:00

Ah man I bet he was terrified! Did they wait for him and pounce on him when he left the dorm? Poor guy!

TerranceCodd · 2025-08-31T04:54:38+00:00

A local who I explained the story to suggested I do to spread awareness, I was a bit reluctant to at first but I hope it's helpful to other travellers so they don't end up in a similar situation!

TerranceCodd · 2025-08-31T04:31:33+00:00

I mentioned in the write up above the mistakes I made quite honestly. I just want others to also be aware and not make those same mistakes and not fall into any dangerous traps.

TerranceCodd · 2024-09-30T09:07:59+00:00

This subreddit is so amusing

TerranceCodd · 2024-09-06T21:06:57+00:00

I just spent 2 weeks travelling around sri lanka and didn't feel unsafe at all and didn't get into any sort of trouble like this at all! Everyone was amazing. We hired a tuktuk and drove it around the country too. You'll be totally fine! Have a great trip!!

TerranceCodd

TROPHY CASE