A Colombian woman dubbed ‘La Pretty’ has been arrested in Colombia after allegedly drugging foreign men after meeting her victims on dating apps.
Paola Parra, 25, was taken into custody at José María Córdoba International Airport in Medellín moments before she was about to board a flight to the Dominican Republic.
Antioquia Police commander, colonel Andrés Martínez, announced on Tuesday that the ‘serial seductress’ used the dating app Bumble to meet men and then rob them.
An Interpol Red Notice was issued for her arrest after Brazilian cops said she drugged a man to steal more than $23,000 in crypto, $650 in cash, as well as bank cards and other valuables.
The date of alleged theft was not provided by Colombian authorities, but posts on her Facebook page show that she was in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in April 2023.
Paola Parra was arrested at José María Córdoba International Airport in Medellín on Tuesday. The 25-year-old Colombian is accused by authorities of stealing $23,000 in cryptocurrency from a man in Brazil after meeting him through Bumble
Colombian authorities said Paola Parra was about to board a flight to the Dominican Republic when she was arrested on Tuesday. The 25-year-old is said to have targeted victims in the Dominican Republic after meeting them on social media apps
‘I am grateful for what I have and fight for what I lack,’ her caption read on an April 23 post.
Parra had also targeted victims in the Dominican Republic in the past.
‘It was known that there were already some previous meetings in the Dominican Republic with tourist citizens who were going to Santo Domingo and the Bávaro region in Punta Cana,’ Martínez said. ‘The modality was similar to the theft of digital currencies.’
Medellín authorities are now looking into whether Parra had committed any crimes against tourists in Colombia and if any victims had died in the process.
Medellín Mayor Federico Gutiérrez revealed last week that dating apps were rolling out an option for foreign visitor to alert authorities in the event they sense that are in danger.
Parra’s arrest comes a little over a week after the U.S. Department of State warned American of insecurity in Colombia, especially Bogotá, the capital.
‘The U.S. Embassy reminds U.S. citizens of the continued threat of crime throughout Colombia,’ the embassy said. ‘Recently, robberies conducted by armed individuals, have occurred in popular Bogota restaurants, cafés, and breweries, frequented by tourists and the expat community.
‘U.S. citizens should be vigilant, maintain heightened situational awareness, and incorporate strong personal security practices into their daily activities.’
Paola Parra was arrested at an airport in Medellín, Colombia on Tuesday after authorities in Brazil sought help from Interpol, which issued a Red Notice for her capture. Parra, a native of Colombia, allegedly used a banned substance to make a Brazilian man fall unconscious before stealing $23,000 in crypto currency and 3,244 Brazilian reals, about $656
Medellín authorities are investigating whether Paola Parra used Bumble to lure victims
In January, the embassy in Bogotá issued a warning over the use of dating apps.
It advised American visitors that ‘they should strongly consider meeting only in public places and avoiding isolated locations, such as residences or hotel rooms, where crimes are most likely to occur.’
‘It is also recommended that if Americans decide to invite a person they met to a home or hotel, they speak to the ‘attendant/concierge beforehand and establish a policy as to what information your new visitor should provide before being authorized entry (photo of identification, etc.) and what process should be followed when your visitor departs,’ the embassy said.
Tinder followed by issuing a safety advisory in January, recommending that users utilize extra caution when they decide to meet their dates.
‘Recently, there have been government advisories about heightened risks in certain regions, and we’d like to remind you to prioritize your safety on dates,’ the warning posted on the dating app read.
”Please check with your local travel authority for more info,’ the warning indicated. ‘Please remember to vet your matches, meet in public places, and share plans with people you trust,’ the advisory indicated. ‘If something feels off, you can end the date. Follow your instincts.’
At least 13 foreigners have died in Medellín in the first two months of 2024 after 30 deaths were reported in all of last year.
Community activist and comedian Tou Ger Xiong is one of eight Americans died from alleged drug overdoses or were killed after they were lured by people they met on dating apps in Medellín, Colombia between November 1 and December 31, 2023. The 50-year-old was found dead December 11, after going out with a 19-year-old woman he previously met on an app
Tinder released an advisory via its app to users and offering tips on how to use the app, especially when traveling outside the United States
Josué Cardona, who held dual U.S.-Colombia citizenship, was stabbed dead at his apartment on February 24.
Three other Americans were found dead in their hotel or Airbnb apartments within a span of five days earlier this month.
Dakarai Cobb, 47, was found dead in his rental on February 5. Anthony López, 29, was discovered dead in his room on February 4, a day after he was seen entering the building with two women. Manly Conley, 37, died February 4 after he fell from the balcony of his 17th-floor Airbnb rental.
St. Paul, Minnesota, comedian and activist Tou Ger Xiong, 50, was kidnapped in Medellín on December 10 and found dead the following day after going on a date with 19-year-old Sharit Mejía, whom he had previously met on a dating app.
He was among eight Americans who died between November 1 and December 31, 2023.
On November 13, Texas resident Jeffrey Hutson, 55, was found dead in his hotel room with at least 20 stab wounds in his neck after he had returned to the suite with an 18-year-old woman he met on a dating app.
The woman was arrested November 27 and charged with aggravated homicide.
