US citizens travelling to Colombia have been warned against using dating apps in the country after the “suspicious deaths” of eight American tourists in two months.

The US embassy in Bogota said some victims were drugged and robbed after meeting people on these apps.

The incidents often occurred in cities like Medellin, Cartagena and Bogota where US tourism has picked up.

Travellers are being told to avoid isolated locations like hotel rooms.

Criminals use the apps to lure victims to public spaces like restaurants and bars, where they can be assaulted, robbed and even killed, sometimes by the person they meet, the embassy warned.