Romance Blackmail Scams in Costa Rica
Sextortion scams target Costa Ricans on Tinder and Instagram, using SINPE Móvil payment demands to exploit the speed and irreversibility of instant transfers.
Part of: Romance Blackmail Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Romance blackmail scams in Costa Rica benefit from the speed and irreversibility of SINPE Móvil, enabling scammers to collect and move funds within minutes of issuing a threat. Victims are approached on Tinder, Bumble, and Instagram by attractive profiles that rapidly escalate to intimate exchanges before the blackmail demand arrives.
Costa Rica's culturally conservative social environment in many communities means victims face real stigma concerns, and many pay without reporting. The OIJ cybercrime unit receives a growing number of sextortion complaints as mobile internet access has expanded.
How this scam works on Costa Rica
A scammer creates a convincing Tinder or Instagram profile using high-quality photos and engages the victim in romantic conversation. Within days, the exchange moves to WhatsApp and escalates to intimate content requests or a video call recorded without consent. The blackmail demand arrives immediately, citing specific friends and family contacts from the victim's social media.
Payment via SINPE Móvil is demanded within one hour, typically CRC 50,000–500,000. The immediate deadline leverages the app's real-time payment capability to prevent the victim from reflecting or seeking advice. Post-payment, demands escalate rather than cease.
Some operations use AI-generated or stolen Costa Rican-looking profiles specifically to target local men, referencing known social contexts (universities, neighbourhoods) to appear locally credible.
Common red flags
- New online contact escalates to intimate requests very quickly
- Profile uses professional photos inconsistent with a casual dating app
- Immediately after intimate exchange, blackmail demand with a short deadline
- SINPE Móvil payment demanded to a number you do not recognise
- Scammer references specific friends or family by name from your social media
- Each payment is followed immediately by a further demand
How to protect yourself
- Never share intimate content with an unverified online contact
- Review Instagram and Facebook privacy settings to limit contact list scraping
- Do not pay — report to OIJ immediately and preserve all evidence
- Block the scammer on all platforms after preserving evidence
- Seek support: Costa Rica's Poder Judicial victim support services can assist confidentially
- Inform the platform (Tinder, Instagram) using in-app reporting tools
How to report it
- Report to the OIJ cybercrime unit at oij.go.cr or call 911
- Report the profile to Tinder, Instagram, or WhatsApp via in-app reporting
- Contact the Ministerio Público for criminal extortion proceedings
Frequently asked questions
Is sextortion a crime in Costa Rica?
Yes. Extortion (extorsión) is a criminal offence under Costa Rica's Código Penal, punishable by imprisonment. The OIJ investigates these cases. Reporting early increases the chance of identifying and prosecuting the perpetrators.