Six charged over $14 billion tourism fraud scheme in Medellín affecting over 1,000 victims
The Office of the Prosecutor charged six individuals with leading a network of false tourist membership schemes in shopping centres in Medellín that allegedly defrauded more than 1,000 people.
False tourism packages network in Medellín results in six charges and illicit gains exceeding $14 billion
According to infobae.com, the Office of the Prosecutor of the Nation charged six individuals with leading a criminal organisation that allegedly defrauded more than 1,000 victims through false tourist memberships in Medellín. The scheme generated illicit gains exceeding $14 billion.
The organisation operated through purported travel agencies installed in shopping centres in the city. Its members approached citizens with promises of bonuses, discounts on airline tickets and tourism packages, before committing financial fraud using their documents and personal information.
The mechanism of deception
Victims were taken to physical offices to "validate" the supposed benefits. Once there, the perpetrators requested identity documents, bank cards and mobile phones. With these items, they opened financial products and executed transactions in the names of the affected individuals; the money ended up in accounts under the organisation's control.
The structure deliberately targeted older adults, people in vulnerable conditions and citizens with visual or cognitive limitations—groups with less capacity to detect the fraud or resist the pressure applied. When the people approached did not carry their documents, members accompanied them to their own homes to obtain them. Those who attempted to read contracts were prevented from doing so by taking advantage of their visual difficulties or the trust generated by the offers.
To hinder tracing, the network operated under different business names—different legal company names—which allowed it to continue recruiting victims whilst one designation was being questioned.
The six charged individuals
A prosecutor from the Support Structure (EDA) of the Medellín Sectional Office presented the six charged individuals before a guarantees control judge on 17 October 2026. Those identified are Luis Fernando Berrío Duque, Juan Camilo Vásquez Ramírez, Juan Diego Ramírez Caicedo, Johana Gil Hena, Carlos Andrés Pineda Zapata and Miguel Ángel Manrique Villa.
The charges brought include conspiracy to commit aggravated crime with fraud intent, aggravated fraud in mass form, abusive access to computer systems and aggravated violation of personal data. None of the six accepted the charges.
Responsibilities were assigned according to the individual role of each within the scheme. Five of the six charged individuals received detention measures in a prison centre. Manrique Villa must remain deprived of liberty in his place of residence.
Source: Google News CO — Crime