Overview
- The U.S. Embassy and its consulates confirmed multiple Americans were abducted in recent months in Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Nayarit after meeting captors on dating apps.
- Officials reported that victims and their families faced large extortion demands to secure releases.
- The U.S. Consulate in Guadalajara advised travelers to meet matches only in public places, inform someone they trust of their plans and trust their instincts.
- The State Department placed Jalisco under a Level 3: Reconsider Travel alert and Nayarit under Level 2: Exercise Caution due to crime and kidnappings.
- Authorities noted that similar dating-app–related violent crimes have occurred in the U.S., including a spring robbery and shooting in Los Angeles.