Plenty of tourists travel to Mexico every year and have no issues or safety concerns whatsoever.
However, there are risks which you should be aware of. Being informed is never a bad thing especially when it comes to keeping you and your family safe.
The fact of the matter is that as a tourist, regardless of where you are in the world, you are a likely target for theft and scams. The best way to protect yourself is to do your research and now what you may be up against. To increase your chances of a safe and problem-free vacation to Mexico, keep an eye out for the following things.
Taxi Scams
Mexico City is known for being a dangerous place when it comes to hailing a cab. Unlike The United States where there isn’t much concern for safety when you’re in a cab, besides the risk of getting in an accident in bustling traffic, Mexico City isn’t the same.
Rather than catching a cab in the street, you should ask your hotel receptionist to call a cab for you. That way you know that you’ll be riding in an authorized cab rather than a rogue taxi which could have bad intentions.
Kidnapping
Even though kidnapping incidents have gone down over the last few years, they are still a reality in Mexico. Unsuspecting victims may find themselves being held for up to 48 hours while the criminals attempt to drain their bank accounts and blackmail family members.
People may even be victims of staged kidnappings that trick friends and family into believing that someone they love has been taken hostage. As a result, they’re persuaded to give private information about themselves. If you believe a loved one has been kidnapped, the best thing to do is to call the police and Hire a Professional people tracing service to find them. You should never try to find your loved one yourself, as you may come to harm yourself.
Even if someone asks for you by name, you should never give your information over the phone.
Some places in Mexico put you more at risk for this kind of crime due to organized crime and cartel presence. However, crime can happen anywhere in the world and just because you’re in a part of Mexico with a high crime rate doesn’t mean it will happen to you – you just need to be aware and stay safe.
Credit Card Scams
One common scam is when tourists credit and debit card numbers are skimmed. As a result, their accounts are stolen, and their cards charged fraudulently.
This happens when the employee of an establishment attempts to clone your information illegally. It can also happen at rogue ATM machines which have a camera and skimmer installed.
There’s also the risk of being physically robbed from your pocket. The bottom line is to keep your cards safe and in your sight.
Drinking Too Much Alcohol
Although a lot of people associate vacations to Mexico with drinking cocktails, it’s important not to get too intoxicated. You become more of a target for crime if you don’t have your wits about you.
Try to avoid drinking to the point of losing your awareness
