BREAKING NEWS Urgent kidnapping warning for American tourists traveling to summer hotspot
The State Department issued the urgent warning after a spate of U.S citizens were kidnapped and held for ransom by people met through the online matchmaking services.
The victims, whose names have not been made public, were abducted in Puerto Vallarta, a popular tourist destination in the western state of Jalisco, and Nuevo Nayarit, a coastal city in the western state Nayarit, just eight miles north from Puerto Vallarta.
'Victims and their family members in the United States have at times been extorted for large sums of money to secure their release,' the U.S. Consulate General Guadalajara said in a statement.
'Please be aware that this type of violence is not limited to one geographic area.'
American travelers are advised to meet their dates only in public places and to steer away from isolated areas, such as private homes or hotels, since those are places where crimes usually are carried out.
'Tell a friend or family member of your plans, including where you are going, details of the person you are meeting, and the app you used to meet them,' the security alert recommended.
'Trust your instincts. If something does not feel right, do not hesitate to remove yourself from a situation.'
Texas-based security consultant Robert Almonte told DailyMail.com that the dating app scam was part of the cartels' push to make more money.
'It doesn't surprise me that the Mexican cartels are involved in this latest scam, basically a ruse to get people to fall into their trap and then kidnap them and hold them for ransom,' he said.
'That doesn't surprise me at all. That's how the cartels operate. People need to understand that the Mexican cartels are not just about drugs, when they make money they involve activities other than drug trafficking, [they] involve human smuggling. But in this case here they are using dating apps to trap people.'
Almonte echoed the State Department's warning that that Americans traveling to Mexico should steer clear of going on dating apps.
'I urge them to be very, very cautious. As a matter of fact, there are plenty of ways to meet people out there in Mexico and I would not use dating apps,' he said.
The State Department advisory comes amid a move by the Department of Justice to extradite Aurora Phelps, 43, from Mexico to the US to face charges from a dating app scam, including kidnapping resulting in death.
The dual Mexican-American citizen allegedly lured much older men she met through online dating apps such as Bumble, Hinge and Tinder and stole their money from July 1, 2021, to December 9, 2022, according to an indictment that was unsealed February 21.
Phelps, who lived in Las Vegas but had a home in Guadalajara, was arrested by Mexican authorities in February.
In November 2022, allegedly Phelps kidnapped a man who was in search of love. She somehow managed to push him on a wheelchair through the Mexico-United States border as her daughter watched. The sedated victim was taken to Mexico City, where he was found dead in a hotel, according to the indictment.
In May 2022, she connected with another man in the western Mexican city of Guadalajara. The victim was reported missing and police found him dead in the bathroom of his residence.
Phelps allegedly waited several days until she tried to use the man's bank accounts to purchase gold coins and mail them to her own home.
It's not the first time the State Department has warned U.S. citizens about the dangers that come along with matching on an online dating app while vacationing outside the United States.
In January 2024, the U.S. Embassy Bogotá in Colombia issued a warning following the deaths of eight Americans in Medellín between November 1 and December 31, 2023.
Minnesota-based comic, Tou Ger Xiong, was murdered in Medellín on December 11 after he was kidnapped and robbed after going on a date with a woman he had previously met on Tinder.
On November 13, Texas resident Jeffrey Hutson, 55, was found dead in his hotel room with at least 20 stab wounds in his neck after he had returned to the suite with an 18-year-old woman he met on a dating app.
The woman was arrested November 27 and charged with aggravated homicide.
In a press release, U.S. Embassy Bogotá said that the 'deaths appear to involve either involuntary drugging overdose or are suspected homicides.'
While they were not related, the embassy found that 'several of the deaths point to possible drugging, robbery, and overdose, and several involve the use of online dating applications.'
It suggested American visitors 'should strongly consider meeting only in public places and avoiding isolated locations, such as residences or hotel rooms,' places were crimes could be executed.
The embassy advised Americans that if they chose 'to invite a person they met to a home or hotel, they speak to the 'attendant/concierge beforehand and establish a policy as to what information your new visitor should provide before being authorized entry (photo of identification, etc.) and what process should be followed when your visitor departs.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
25 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Woman accuses police of ‘victim blaming' as stalker circled
A stalking victim who was followed to her home in Bali and received kidnapping threats has criticised the British police over the way her case was handled. Alexandra Saper said she had to navigate 'bureaucratic red tape' to achieve justice after Rob Keating, 39, packed black rope in his suitcase and booked a one-way ticket to the Indonesian island. In the months preceding the trip, Keating had subjected Ms Saper to 'incessant and constant' messages in which he shared his graphic sexual fantasies, including that he would 'go Fifty Shades of Grey' on her and wanted to abduct her. Ms Saper, a former lawyer, said that after reporting Keating to the authorities her account was 'diminished' and she was even told by one British police officer to 'get off' social media. Delivering a victim impact statement, Ms Saper, who is in her thirties, said Keating was allowed to roam freely while the burden fell on her to 'hide, run, and relentlessly follow up with police'. Jurors found Keating guilty of stalking after a six day trial at Portsmouth Crown Court in May. He will be sentenced on Oct 9. Ms Saper, having flown to Britain to give a statement to the court on Friday as part of Keating's sentencing, denounced the way her case had been handled. 'For months, I pleaded with the UK and US embassies, countless police officers across three countries, politicians, public figures, and the press to help me,' she told Judge Michael Bowes KC. 'I just wanted my life back, but he was still in my neighbourhood, roaming freely, searching for me.' Videos and messages over email Keating, who lived in his sister's garage in Havant, Hants, first contacted Ms Saper on Instagram in July 2022 with a 'weird and creepy'' message to which the influencer responded, 'Dude, why are you following me if you don't like my content?' She blocked Keating on the social media platform after he shared extracts from the erotic S&M novel Fifty Shades of Grey. However, he then began bombarding her with videos and messages over email and used another profile to continue viewing her posts. The trial was previously shown over an hour of footage from videos in which Keating told Ms Saper to get 'kidnap insurance' and that he was going to 'spank'' her. In February 2023, he travelled to Bali, posting a picture of the plane he was about to board with the caption 'let the games begin''. He visited bars and restaurants just metres from her home and continued to message her, telling her 'you're never getting rid of me'. Ms Saper was so concerned that she fled to the nearby south-east Asian country of Laos to put distance between her and Keating. 'I saw my case drop off and be forgotten' On his return to the UK in March 2023, Keating was arrested by police who found black rope and a tie in his suitcase. He continued to stalk Ms Saper between September and November 2024, at which point he lived in Horsham, in West Sussex. Ms Saper said: 'I saw my case drop off and be forgotten, my emails to the department ignored, and no confirmation of any progress made in the investigation – I learned just how hard it really is for victims to get help.' She added: 'My case sat unassigned for months, and my emails to the police were left ignored, while he continued to freely stalk me and terrorise me.' Ms Saper said Keating was charged with stalking after posting flights to return to Bali, as well as photos and videos of her with the words 'Round 2'. Speaking after today's hearing, Ms Saper said she had been subjected by the police to 'victim blaming'', adding: 'They were telling me, 'Well, just stop posting on Instagram'. 'The UK police, they told me to just get off Instagram.' Responding to Ms Saper's criticisms, Det Insp Katt Green from Hampshire Constabulary said: 'We take all reports of this nature extremely seriously. 'However it's important to remember that our enquiries involved liaising with other forces and the logistics of engaging and supporting a victim who was abroad. 'There was also a prolonged period during 2024 when all parties involved were outside of the UK, which limited the enquiries that could be undertaken during this time. Charges were made in November 2024, which have led to these court proceedings.'
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Stalking victim says UK police did not take her ‘years of hell' seriously
A travel influencer stalked by a British man who travelled to her Indonesian home and threatened to kidnap her has strongly criticised police over the way her case was handled. Alexandra Saper, who is from the US, said authorities in the UK and Indonesia did not initially take her 'two and a half years of hell' seriously and she was told by one British police officer to quit social media. She said her stalker, Rob Keating, 39, was allowed to roam freely while the burden fell on her to 'hide, run and relentlessly follow up with police'. Saper said: 'For months, I pleaded with the UK and US embassies, countless police officers, politicians, public figures and the press to help me. I just wanted my life back, but he was still roaming freely, searching for me.' She added: 'The world's not set up for female victims and minorities to be listened to and believed. I think that's a really hard thing to live with. That's what's so long-lasting about this trauma. It's the shattered belief that if something bad happens, someone will protect me.' Keating subjected Saper to incessant messages in which he shared sexual fantasies, including that he would 'go Fifty Shades of Grey' on her – a reference to the erotic bestseller – and wanted to abduct her. Jurors found Keating guilty of stalking after a trial at Portsmouth crown court, Hampshire, earlier this year. The court was told he went to Bali and visited bars and restaurants close to Saper's home, messaging her to say: 'You're never getting rid of me.' When he returned to the UK, he was arrested and police found rope in his luggage. Saper's complaints came after survivors of stalking, campaigners for women's safety and heads of law enforcement raised concerns over continuing failings by police in England and Wales to tackle perpetrators and protect victims. They said that while some forces are doing innovative work on stalking, others are not improving quickly enough, leading to a 'patchwork' service and victims facing a 'postcode lottery'. Last week, a 71-year-old man from Berkshire, Phil Appleton, was ordered not to contact the actor Anna Friel or go to the area where she lives after admitting to stalking her. He is to be sentenced next month. On Friday, Saper appeared in court after flying to the UK from Bali to give a statement to court as part of Keating's sentencing. In the statement, she said: 'In the two and a half years between when I first reported to the police and when they finally pressed charges, I have been forced to carry unreasonable burdens, navigate bureaucratic red tape and muster resilience in the face of persistent obstacles to justice. 'My case was transferred between more than a dozen police officers and departments. Evidence was lost multiple times, or never passed on during transfers. Each time, it was like starting over. 'Rob even harassed the female officers assigned to my case, one of whom was removed for her protection; but after that, my case sat unassigned for months, and my emails to the police were left ignored, while he continued to freely stalk me and terrorise me. 'It was only after two and a half years of this hell, when he posted flights to return to Bali, photos and videos of me, and the words 'Round Two' that he was finally charged with stalking.' Speaking outside court, Saper said police officers in Indonesia and the UK 'diminished' her case and she was subjected to 'victim blaming'. She said UK police told her: 'Well, just stop posting on Instagram.' She said: 'There were so many times where we'd leave a report and then not hear anything, follow up and there was no record of the report.' Saper said her case was transferred from a Sussex police force to Hampshire police at one point as Keating moved from one neighbouring county to the other. It led to another delay, she said. 'That was horrific. That was outrageous.' DI Katt Green, from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, said: 'It's important to remember that our inquiries involved liaising with other forces and the logistics of engaging and supporting a victim who was abroad. 'There was also a prolonged period during 2024 when all parties involved were outside of the UK, which limited the inquiries that could be undertaken during this time.' Sussex police have also been approached for comment. Keating will be sentenced on 9 October. In the UK, the National Stalking Helpline is on 0808 802 0300 or email via their inquiry form. In the US, resources are available at
The Guardian
13 hours ago
- The Guardian
Five key points on how a long-respected US human rights report became a ‘cudgel' under Trump
In May, Donald Trump took to the stage at a business conference in Saudi Arabia's capital, promising that the US would no longer chastise other governments over human rights issues or lecture them on 'how to live and how to govern your own affairs'. With the release this week of the US government's annual report on human rights worldwide, the president has – in part – followed though on that pledge. The report – compiled by the state department – softens its criticism of nations that have sought closer ties with the US president, while alleging 'significant' human rights breaches among traditional allies across Europe, all while vastly scaling back criticism of discrimination against minority groups. The report's claims of 'no credible' human rights abuses in Hungary and El Salvador sit at odds with the state department's own report from a year earlier, which described the situation in Hungary as 'deteriorating', while highlighting 'arbitrary killings', 'enforced disappearance' and 'torture' in El Salvador. In April, a delegation of EU lawmakers warned that the rule of law in Hungary is 'rapidly going in the wrong direction' under Viktor Orbán's government. They highlighted threats to press freedom and targeting of minorities. In June a law banning content about LGBTQ+ people from schools and TV was found to violate basic human rights and freedom of expression by a scholar at the European court of justice. Meanwhile, activists and opposition leaders in El Salvador have warned the country is on the path towards dictatorship after its congress scrapped presidential term limits, paving the way for President Nayib Bukele to seek indefinite re-election. Bukele's hardline approach to crime has been accompanied by an assault on civil society and democratic institutions. Orbán and Bukele have both positioned themselves as Trump adherents – with El Salvador opening up a notorious mega-prison to detain US deportees. Orbán, who came to power in 2010, was once described as 'Trump before Trump' by the US president's former adviser Steve Bannon. France, Germany and the United Kingdom are among the European countries singled out as having seen a worsening human rights situation. The picture is a far cry from the previous report, which saw no significant changes. Criticism over the handling of free speech – in particular relating to regulations on online hate speech – was directed at the governments of the UK, Germany and France. The criticism comes despite the US itself moving aggressively to deny or strip visas of foreign nationals over their statements and social media postings, especially student activists who have criticised Israel. Since being returning to power, Trump and his administration have stepped up criticism of traditional allies – in February the vice-president, JD Vance, accused European leaders of suppressing free speech, failing to halt illegal migration and running in fear from voters' true beliefs. The report also singles out Brazil, where Trump has decried the prosecution of former president Jair Bolsonaro. Brazil, the report says, has 'undermined democratic debate by restricting access to online content deemed to 'undermine democracy.'' The report's section on Israel and the Palestinian territories is much shorter than last year's edition and contains no mention of the severe humanitarian crisis or death toll in Gaza. It acknowledges cases of arbitrary arrests and killings by Israel but says authorities took 'credible steps' to identify those responsible. More than 61,000 people have been killed in Gaza, the Gaza health ministry says, as a result of Israel's military assault after an attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas in October 2023 in which 1,200 people were killed. Sections within the report highlighting discrimination have been vastly pared back. Any criticism focused on LGBTQI rights, gender-based violence or racial and ethnic violence which appeared in Biden administration editions of the report, appear to have been largely removed. A group of former state department officials called some omissions 'shocking,' particularly highlighting the lack of detail on Uganda, which in 2023 saw the passing of some of the harshest anti-LGBTQ+ laws in the world, including the death penalty for some homosexual acts. For decades, the report has been used as a blueprint of reference for global rights advocacy – but critics have labelled this year's edition politically driven. 'The report demonstrates what happens when political agendas take priority over the facts,' says Josh Paul, a former state department official, adding 'the outcome is a much-abbreviated product that is more reflective of a Soviet propaganda.' In April, secretary of state Marco Rubio wrote an opinion piece saying the bureau that prepares the report had become a platform for 'left-wing activists,' and vowed that the Trump administration would reorient it to focus on 'western values'. State department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the report was restructured to improve readability and was no longer an expansive list of 'politically biased demands and assertions'. Democratic party lawmakers, however, have accused Trump and Rubio of treating human rights only as a 'cudgel' against adversaries, in a statement released this week. Rubio's state department has 'shamelessly turned a once-credible tool of US foreign policy mandated by Congress into yet another instrument to advance Maga political grievances and culture war obsessions,' said Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. With Reuters
