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Guadalajara, Mexico – The U.S. Consulate General in Guadalajara has confirmed a series of recent kidnappings involving American citizens who were lured through dating apps, primarily in the resort towns of Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Nayarit. In a security alert issued June 2, U.S. officials urged travelers to exercise heightened caution when using online platforms to meet strangers while visiting Mexico.
According to the alert, several Americans have been abducted after arranging in-person meetings through dating apps. In some cases, their families in the United States were later contacted and extorted for large sums of money in exchange for the victim’s release. Though the majority of these incidents have occurred in the coastal areas of Jalisco and Nayarit, the consulate emphasized that the threat is not confined to a single region.
“Please be aware that this type of violence is not limited to one geographic area,” the alert stated. “Travelers should use caution when meeting strangers; meet only in public places and avoid isolated locations, such as residences or hotel rooms, where crimes are most likely to occur.”
The warning comes as both Jalisco and Nayarit, known for their popularity among American tourists, remain under heightened security advisories from the U.S. Department of State. Jalisco, home to Puerto Vallarta, is currently under a Level 3 advisory — “Reconsider Travel” — due to concerns over crime and kidnapping. Nayarit, which includes the city of Nuevo Nayarit, is under a Level 2 advisory, meaning travelers should “Exercise Increased Caution.”
The State Department’s system of travel advisories, which ranks countries and regions on a scale from Level 1 (“Exercise Normal Precautions”) to Level 4 (“Do Not Travel”), reflects both long-standing safety concerns and specific recent developments. While Mexico as a whole remains a major destination for American travelers, regional disparities in safety and law enforcement capacity continue to shape the risk landscape.
U.S. officials recommend several safety measures for those using dating apps while abroad. These include informing friends or family of one’s plans, including where and with whom the meeting is taking place; choosing public meeting spots; and trusting personal instincts if a situation feels off. In the event of an emergency, travelers are advised to dial 911 in Mexico and to contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for consular support.
The alert underscores the evolving ways in which technology intersects with transnational crime. What begins as a personal interaction in a digital space can quickly escalate into a high-stakes situation, especially in regions where criminal organizations are known to exploit vulnerabilities in tourism and communication.
As dating apps become a more common part of travel and social interaction abroad, security officials stress the importance of informed vigilance. What may seem like a private or romantic encounter can, in certain contexts, expose individuals to coordinated criminal activity — a risk that is magnified when local conditions are unstable or poorly understood.
For now, the consulate continues to monitor the situation and urges U.S. citizens to remain alert, informed, and cautious when engaging with strangers online — especially when those digital connections move into the real world.
