A viral social media post is raising alarms about business cards supposedly coated with a dangerous drug called burundanga — but fact-checkers say the story likely isn’t true.
The warning claims that criminals in the U.S. are using business cards laced with burundanga, also known as scopolamine or “devil’s breath,” to incapacitate victims before robbing or assaulting them. The post, often framed as a “police warning” to women, describes an alleged incident in which a man handed a woman a business card at a gas station. According to the story, the woman felt dizzy from a strong odor coming from her hand after touching the card, realized something was wrong, rolled down her window, and honked for help — escaping unharmed.
However, no U.S. police department has reported any such incident, and fact-checking website Snopes says the story falls apart under scrutiny.
While scopolamine is a real drug — a prescription medication used to treat motion sickness and postoperative nausea — experts say a large dose is unlikely to be delivered by casual contact like handling a business card. It’s also odorless, meaning the detail about a “strong smell” makes the viral story even less plausible.
Snopes noted that the viral warning lacks basic information such as a date, location, or any verifiable details — a common hallmark of fabricated chain messages. “A true story would likely have at least a few identifying details,” the site said.
While the business card rumor could be false, scopolamine is used in real crimes in some parts of the world. In 2023, the U.S. Embassy in Colombia warned travelers about an increase in cases where sedatives, including scopolamine, were used to drug and rob foreigners — often through online dating apps, bars, or nightclubs.
The embassy shared these safety tips:
- If you’re in imminent danger, contact local authorities.
- Avoid going to bars or nightclubs alone or leaving with strangers.
- Don’t leave food or drinks unattended, and don’t accept them from strangers.
- Seek medical attention if you believe you’ve been drugged.
- Trust your instincts — if something feels off, walk away.
In short: scopolamine is real and dangerous in the wrong hands, but there’s no evidence anyone in the U.S. is handing out drug-laced business cards.
