A US digital nomad's dream stay in Medellin, Colombia turned into a nightmare that highlights the dark side of the city's remote work boom.
The traveler rented a furnished apartment at Edificio San Peter in Laureles, Medellín through a company called Urban Realtor. After moving in with a signed lease at 3.5 million Colombian pesos per month, the property owner allegedly fabricated damages and demanded 3 million pesos—threatening arrest and deportation if the tenant refused to pay.
When the traveler declined, the owner called police and had them detained for over 30 hours. According to the post on r/digitalnomad, no hearing was held, and the traveler was denied access to the US Embassy.
While detained, the situation deteriorated dramatically. The traveler reports that $400 USD in cash was stolen, credit cards were maxed out with approximately $2,000 in fraudulent charges, and a work phone disappeared. GPS tracking allegedly placed the phone at the building during the detention.
After release, the traveler's belongings—including a PS5, laptop with work files, commissioned artwork, medications, and their US passport—were all kept by the property management.
The traveler has filed criminal complaints with Colombia's Fiscalía General de la Nación and documented the incident with evidence including GPS data, credit card timestamps, and recorded threats.
Why This Matters for Digital Nomads
Medellin has aggressively marketed itself as a digital nomad hub, with co-working spaces, DN-focused events, and a growing expat community. But this incident reveals the risks of renting in popular remote work destinations without proper vetting.
The building appears on Google Maps, Booking.com, and Airbnb-type platforms as "San Peter Apartments" or To the casual browser, it looks like any other quality rental option in the popular neighborhood.
