Tourists are Being Hunted with Apps

In Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, the U.S. Embassy has issued a chilling warning: Travelers are being lured through dating apps, kidnapped, and held for ransom. This isn’t a Hollywood plot. It’s happening now.  And the threat isn’t confined to Mexico.  Cities like Medellín, Colombia, with their vibrant tourism and the most beautiful women, are just as vulnerable. The tactics are familiar: digital bait, isolated locations, attractive landscapes with sensual bodies, and organized criminal cells waiting to strike.  As providers of Travel Risk Security Manager, we have seen first hand how a single “careless click” can spiral into a crisis involving ransom negotiations, hostage rescue,and permanent trauma. During this year, more than five Americans have died in Colombia—trapped in this exotic trip.

What can you do? 

• Stop relying on luck. Risk doesn’t care about your itinerary.
• Implement smart protocols. Vet transportation, map safe zones, restrictapp usage.
• Educate your people. Especially those traveling for business, missions,or fieldwork.
• Please inform your most trusted friend where and what you are going todo. Don’t be shy!

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If you manage international teams, NGOs, or C-Suite travelers and want to bulletproof your travel protocols, we are happy to share the latest tactics we’re using to keep people safe in Latin America and beyond.

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