A new warning for tourists in Bolivia has just arrived telling of how gangs using fake clothing and identification of police are robbing tourists, especially in the La Paz region. This sort of event is not new and has been happening for some time now. Apart from the two scenarios listed below, locals have also told me about fake police coming into the bus terminal and claiming that you have just been robbed without realising it and that they need to revise your bags to see what the thieves did. Of course, as they revise your bags, they are the ones that are robbing you...
Police state that there are currently eight organized criminal groups operating in the La Paz area. They focus on European/American tourists who are not wearing a traditional “trekker” backpack and are traveling without a large number of bags. The criminal groups assume that these tourists are wealthy and probably possess ATM and credit cards. The techniques vary, but there are two major types that have been reported. The first technique introduces a “tourist” to the victims. This introduction can take place on a bus, taxi, train, or just walking down the street. The “tourist” will befriend the victims and might seek assistance in some manner. After a period of time, the “police” intercept the victims and the “tourist”. At this point the “police” discover some sort of contraband (usually drugs) on the “tourist”. The entire group is then taken to the “police station”. At this point, “the police” seize the documents, credit cards, and ATM cards of the victims. The pin numbers of the ATM cards are requested and the scam is complete. This technique has been widely reported and is featured in the current consular sheet on the internet. The second technique again introduces a “tourist” to the victims. This “tourist” can be any race or gender and will probably be able to speak the language of the victims. This meeting can happen anywhere and the goal of the “tourist” is to build the trust of the victims. Once a certain level of trust is obtained, the “tourist” suggests a particular mode of transportation to a location (usually a taxi). The “taxi” picks up the victims and the “tourist” and delivers the group to a safe house in the area. At this point the victims are informed that they are now kidnapped and are forced to give up their credit cards and ATM cards with pin numbers. Police sources state that this technique was used with the Austrian tourists. Both techniques usually end up in the victims being released, but the murder of the victims is still a possibility. The techniques and the actors are convincing. Authentic uniforms, badges, and props help persuade the victims that the situation is real and valid. Extreme caution should be exercised by all tourists visiting Bolivia. We recommend that tourists be suspicious of all “coincidences” that can happen on a trip. If the tourist has doubts about a situation, the tourist should immediately remove him/herself from the scene.