Just sharing this...
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MX.USEMBASSY.GOV
https://mx.usembassy.gov/security-alert-use-caution-when-using-dating-apps/
June 2, 2025
Location: Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco and Nuevo Nayarit, Nayarit, Mexico
Event: U.S. Consulate General Guadalajara has confirmed several reports of U.S. citizens being kidnapped by individuals the victims met on dating apps in recent months in the Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Nayarit areas. Victims and their family members in the United States have at times been extorted for large sums of money to secure their release. Please be aware that this type of violence is not limited to one geographic area. 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 U.S. Consulate General reminds U.S. citizens that in the State Department’s travel advisory for Mexico , Jalisco is classified as “Level 3: Reconsider Travel” due to crime and kidnapping, and Nayarit is classified as “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution” due to crime. If faced with immediate security threats, please contact local police by dialing “911” on any telephone. U.S. citizens in need of emergency consular services should contact their nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
There are a few news reports from spanish televison on these incidents. Although the news did not specify which app, I presume it was grindr as two of the named suspects and the victim were male. In an interview regarding the incidents, the governor of Jalisco intimated the tourists were seeking escorts for hire on the app.
I'm always curious about the details of such events. I tend to assume there were red flags that a wary traveler would have picked up on.