Caution Urged for Travelers in a Specific South American Nation as per Updated US Travel Alert
The United States Department of State has issued a Level 2 travel advisory for Brazil, urging U.S. citizens to exercise increased caution when visiting the South American country.
The advisory cites a recent ransom kidnapping of American tourists as a reason for the Level 2 ranking. According to reports, Brazil had over 4,000 kidnapping cases in 2020. A high-profile case involved the kidnapping of a Brazilian woman whose son worked in the crypto industry, with four suspects arrested by the police. The kidnappers were said to have carefully studied their victims' social media accounts to plan the attack and demand a ransom in cryptocurrency.
Travelers are advised to stay alert of their surroundings, avoid going to bars and clubs alone, be careful with accepting food or drinks from strangers, and be cautious when using ATMs and public transportation. It is also recommended to avoid informal housing developments like favelas and Brasilia's Satellite Cities at night. Specific areas to be cautious in Brazil include Ceilandia, Santa Maria, Sao Sebastiao, and Paranoa.
The advisory warns against traveling within 100 miles of Brazil's land borders, with exceptions for Foz do Iguacu National Park and Pantanal National Park. "Date drug scams" are a concern for travelers in Brazil, with more than 90% of kidnappings in São Paulo initiated through dating apps like Tinder (via BBC News Brazil). Men between the ages of 30 to 65 are the primary targets in these scams.
To minimise risks, it is recommended to have a contact to touch base with regularly while traveling to Brazil. Showing off signs of wealth, exploring beaches at night, and visiting favelas are activities to avoid in Rio de Janeiro. It is also advisable to avoid broadcasting your itinerary or personal information on social media to prevent providing valuable information to potential kidnappers and robbers.
For more safety tips, travellers can refer to Samantha Brown's top hacks for staying safe while travelling. It is also suggested to consider purchasing travel insurance and enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for additional safety measures.
With proper planning, situational awareness, and common sense, it's possible to enjoy all Brazil has to offer as safely as possible. Other countries currently at a Level 2 advisory include Belgium, China, Costa Rica, India, France, Italy, among others. However, the search results do not provide specific information about which organisation assigned Brazil the Travel Advisor Level 2 in the year 20xx or the reasons for Brazil receiving this level.
