Scams/Crime

Italy:

Date: March 13th, 2013 |

A high degree of crime occurs in and around the tourist areas of Naples. While most crime in Italy’s third-largest city is not violent, purse and camera snatching, pickpocketing and break-ins are commonplace. Criminal gangs operate efficiently in the areas that tourists tend to frequent, such as the Centro Historico, Piazza Garibaldi (the central train [read more]

Mexico: Tourist-Zone Crime Adds to Image Problem

Date: February 20th, 2013 |

No Comments

Another barrage of negative headlines has thrust Mexico into the international spotlight, but this time its tourist zones are directly involved, increasing safety concerns and worrying those who rely on tourism jobs and revenue. Recent media coverage of a daytime murder in Mexico City’s busy Zona Rosa, along with the case of six Spanish tourists [read more]

Tanzania: U.S. Embassy Warns of Street Crime Wave

Date: January 30th, 2013 |

No Comments

A spike in street crime has prompted the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam to issue an emergency message to its citizens. In the past three months alone, more than 20 U.S. citizens have been victims of a violent assault. Taxi robbery is increasingly common, along with bag snatching, burglary, hotel robbery and ATM “express” [read more]

Haiti: Government Refutes U.S. Travel Warning

Date: January 20th, 2013 |

No Comments

Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe objected to an updated travel warning, issued by the U.S. State Dept. Dec. 28, that cited problems such as violent crime, cholera outbreaks and lack of infrastructure—particularly medical and emergency services. Calling the warning unfair, Lamothe said it singled out Haiti at a time when the island nation is trying to [read more]

Thailand: Gunfire Kills British Tourist at Beach Party

Date: January 9th, 2013 |

No Comments

Caught in the crossfire between local gang members, a 26-year-old British tourist was shot and killed at a New Year’s Eve beach party on Koh Phangan. Since its full moon parties became a worldwide attraction in the late 1990s, the 65-square-mile island has seen tourism skyrocket along with violent crime. An estimated 180,000 visitors descended [read more]

China: Fake Monks Arrested for Swindling Mt. Wutai Tourists

Date: February 20th, 2013 |

No Comments

Six people were arrested for impersonating monks and fleecing unsuspecting tourists in the Buddhist complex of Mount Wutai, a popular religious site in northeastern Shanxi. Authorities have closed down two temples where fake monks had been operating, conning visitors into “donating” large sums of cash or paying outrageous fees for temple ceremonies. Tourists should be [read more]

El Salvador: Security Issues Prompt Updated Travel Warning

Date: January 30th, 2013 |

No Comments

The U.S. Dept. of State has updated its travel warning to reflect ongoing security issues in El Salvador. Crime and violence continue to be serious problems throughout the country, and while U.S. citizens do not appear to be targeted specifically, 22 Americans have been murdered there in the past two years. Extortion, kidnapping and passport [read more]

Honduras: Tourist Killed for a Camera in San Pedro Sula

Date: January 23rd, 2013 |

No Comments

A British tourist was shot and killed for his camera while walking around San Pedro Sula on Jan. 15. The 33-year-old man, who was nearing the end of a month-long trip, was mugged on a residential street and then murdered when he struggled with his armed assailants over the camera and his small bag of [read more]

Kenya: U.S. Issues Updated Travel Warning

Date: January 20th, 2013 |

No Comments

The U.S. State Dept. has updated its travel warning for Kenya as of Jan. 14. U.S. citizens are being advised of recently heightened threats from violent crime and terrorism in some parts of the country, including bombings, kidnappings and potential threats to civil aviation and maritime ports. Since Kenya formally aligned with the African Union [read more]

Costa Rica: 240 Pounds of Cocaine Seized from Tour Bus

Date: January 2nd, 2013 |

No Comments

A tour group returning from an organized shopping trip to Panama got more excitement than they bargained for when border agents found 240 pounds of cocaine hidden on their tour bus. During a routine customs inspection, a drug-sniffing dog located the drugs in a hidden compartment under the aisle. Police swarmed the vehicle and all [read more]

Travel the World

More WTW

Monthly Archives