Fake Police Scams in Colombia
How fraudsters impersonating Colombian police or DIAN officials intimidate residents into paying fabricated fines or taxes.
Part of: Fake Police Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Authority impersonation scams in Colombia involve callers claiming to be officers from the Policía Nacional, investigators from the DIAN (national tax authority), or prosecutors from the Fiscalía. Victims are told their bank accounts, vehicles, or identity documents are involved in an investigation and that they must pay an immediate 'compliance fee' or face arrest.
Caller ID spoofing makes calls appear to come from official police or government numbers. The combination of authority, urgency, and specific personal details (sometimes from data leaks) makes these calls highly convincing.
How this scam works on Colombia
A caller identifies themselves as a DIAN investigator or Fiscalía official and informs the victim that their tax records or bank account have been flagged for a large discrepancy. A fine or advance payment is required to prevent criminal proceedings. The victim is given an account number described as an official government collection account.
Variants include 'police officer' callers claiming the victim's vehicle was caught in a crime and must pay a processing fee to avoid impoundment, and 'immigration official' calls targeting Venezuelan migrants with threats about documentation compliance.
Victims who push back may be told a 'senior officer' will take over the call — another scammer who raises the stakes further.
Common red flags
- Call from a government official about an investigation you had no prior notice of
- Instruction to transfer money immediately to an account described as official
- Pressure not to verify the call by phoning the agency independently
- Caller knows your name, national ID, or address (from data leaks) making the call seem targeted
- Urgency — payment must be made within the next hour to avoid immediate legal action
How to protect yourself
- Know that Colombian police, DIAN, and Fiscalía never collect payments over the phone
- Hang up and call the relevant agency directly using numbers from its official website
- Never provide banking details or OTPs over an inbound call from a government-claiming caller
- Alert family members, especially elderly relatives and recent migrants who are most targeted
How to report it
- Report to the Policía Nacional's CAI Virtual at caivirtual.policia.gov.co with caller details
- If DIAN branding was used, notify DIAN's official fraud reporting channel at dian.gov.co
- Contact your bank immediately if any transfer was made to request a freeze and reversal
Frequently asked questions
The caller mentioned my vehicle being linked to a crime — is this a common variation of the scam?
Yes — this is a documented variant where callers claim your car was used in a crime and demand a fee to avoid impoundment, designed to create panic about losing property you rely on daily. Treat any such call the same way: hang up and verify independently with the police directly.
I'm a Venezuelan migrant and received a call about my documentation status — should I be extra cautious?
Yes — migrants are specifically targeted in some variants of this scam because uncertainty around documentation status creates strong pressure to comply quickly. Genuine immigration matters are handled through official written processes, not urgent phone calls demanding payment; verify independently before responding.
Can I check with DIAN online whether I actually owe anything, instead of trusting the caller?
Yes — log into the MUISCA portal or your official DIAN electronic notification inbox directly to check your real tax status, rather than relying on anything the caller tells you or any link they send. This is the safest way to confirm whether a claim has any basis.
How does the Colombian government actually notify citizens of tax or legal issues?
The DIAN communicates through formal written notices sent to registered addresses or through the DIAN official electronic inbox (Buzón de notificaciones) accessible via MUISCA, their online portal. The Fiscalía issues formal legal citations in writing. Neither agency collects payments through phone calls. Any call demanding immediate payment is fraudulent.