Federal officials announced that officials at the United States Embassy and its channels in Mexico have confirmed many reports that the Americans were kidnapped by the individuals who met them in a dating application.
In a security alert issued on June 2, the authorities at the American Consulate in Guadalajara issued a warning about accidents, all of which occurred in recent months in the fields of Porto Valreta and Nuevo Nayarret.
The officials said: “The victims and their families in the United States have sometimes been eliminated for large sums of money to secure their release,” officials said. “Please note that this type of violence is not limited to one geographical area. Travelers must be careful when meeting strangers.”
While officials did not mention any of the specific dating applications, they have provided the following advice for the safest travel:
- Be careful if the use of dating applications in Mexico
- It only meets in public places and avoids isolated sites, as crimes are likely to occur
- Tell friends or family members where you are going, the details of the person you meet and what application was used to meet them
- If there is something that does not feel right, trust your instincts and get yourself out of the situation
- In case of calling 911 on any phone to reach the local authorities
The authorities at the American Consulate also encouraged the general travelers to keep pace with the travel of the US State Department Consulting Mexico.
Currently, the Mexican state of Galisco, which includes the city of Porto Valreta, was classified as “Level 3: Reconside” due to crime and kidnapping. The state of Nayarete, which includes the city of Nuwevo Nayrat, was classified as “Level 2: Exercise Warning” due to the crime.
American citizens who travel in Mexico can use the following A link to contact the American embassy and consulate in Mexico.