US government warns of dating app use in popular cruise ports
The warning comes amid a series of kidnappings tied to dating app use.
With the latest statistics showing that over 50% of committed relationships begin on a dating app or other relationship site, the online services can also put users at serious risk to their safety — particularly travelers who turn to them in unfamiliar environments where they do not speak the local language.
Amid several recent reports of kidnappings by individuals that American travelers met online, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico warned tourists to the country to “exercise caution” when using popular dating apps such as Bumble (BMBL) and Tinder (MTCH) on their travels.
The kidnappings were confirmed in Jalisco state’s Puerto Vallarta and Nayarit’s Nuevo Nayarit. As popular resort destinations, both sit on the water and see large numbers of traffic from cruisers — the former city is a port that major cruise lines stop by along the Mexican Riviera, while the latter is a sleepy beachside town from which yachters often start their trips to the Marietas Islands.
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‘Extorted for large sums of money to secure their release’
"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 in Guadalajara said in a June 2 press release. "Please be aware that this type of violence is not limited to one geographic area."
The advisory draws attention to dating app use in particular; the U.S. State Department advisory for Jalisco remains at level three’s "reconsider travel," while Nayarit is still under level two’s "exercise increased caution" due to differing petty and violent crime rates in specific states.
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Those who do choose to use dating apps to meet locals are urged to do so during daylight hours in popular and crowded locations while also informing at least one other person of where they plan to be so that they can contact the police in cases of lost contact.
"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 advisory reads further. Image source: Shutterstock
‘Meet only in public places and avoid isolated locations’
Mexico remains, overall, a safe and extremely popular destination for travelers from the U.S.; over 1.5 million Americans visited the country without issue in 2024.
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But due to vastly differing crime rates, the U.S. State Department has taken a state-by-state approach to travel advisories for Mexico.
States such as Campeche and Yucatan are under the lowest possible "take normal precautions" rating, while border states like Michoacan, Sinaloa, and Guerrero are at the highest "do not travel" due to their location along the path of drug traffickers.
While violent crime rates in popular resort areas are generally very low, dating apps are frequently used by criminals to lure in foreigners looking for love and companionship. Details on what led to the kidnappings of Americans in Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Nayarit have not been released.
"Trust your instincts," the advisory concludes. "If something does not feel right, do not hesitate to remove yourself from a situation," the advisory reads further.
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Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@postcardtravelplanning.com or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
