Travel Alert for Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Nayarit Due to Kidnappings via Dating Apps

• Alert in Mexico due to kidnappings involving dating apps.
• The United States warns about dangerous dates.
• Travelers at risk from dating app encounters.

The US Consulate in Guadalajara has issued a travel alert for Puerto Vallarta (Jalisco) and Nuevo Nayarit (Nayarit).

This follows confirmed reports of Americans being kidnapped after arranging meetings through dating apps.

Authorities urge travelers to take extreme caution and avoid private encounters with strangers contacted online.

This was reported by EFE.

Context: Recent cases

Jason Jacobs traveled from #Denver to #PuertoVallarta on April 30 but never boarded his return flight because he had been kidnapped. He managed to hide in a laundry room until he was rescued by the #FBI and Mexican authorities. The #USA government issued a travel alert. pic.twitter.com/nlc3r6uglw
— Imagen Televisión (@ImagenTVMex) June 5, 2025

The travel alert for Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Nayarit comes after the kidnapping of US citizen Jason Jacobs, who traveled from Denver to Puerto Vallarta on April 30.

His family reported him missing after he failed to return on his scheduled flight on May 7. Days later, they received extortion calls demanding between $5,000 and $10,000 for his release.

Jacobs was taken from Puerto Vallarta to Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit, where he was held at the Velamor hotel.

There, he managed to escape from his captors and hide in the laundry room until he was rescued by the FBI. His mother confirmed his safe return to the US on May 18.

In addition, the case of James Leslie Martin came to light—another American kidnapped after contacting an individual identified as “Gordo” through a dating app.

He was sexually assaulted by his captors, who also demanded ransom. Both incidents have raised alarms among US and Mexican authorities.

Alert in Mexico Due to Dating Apps-Related Kidnappings

The U.S. Consulate General in Guadalajara issued a security alert after confirming that several U.S. citizens have been kidnapped using dating apps. #LoDijoZea @FranciscoZea via @ImagenTVMex pic.twitter.com/qiwtpxkj8c
— imagenzea (@imagenZea) June 5, 2025

The Consulate in Guadalajara advised travelers to:

• Be cautious when using dating apps.
• Meet only in public places.
• Inform family or close contacts of their meeting plans.

Jalisco’s Attorney General’s Office stated that no formal complaints have been filed in the Puerto Vallarta area, while Nayarit’s Attorney General has yet to issue an official response.

Conflicting Views

The United States warns its citizens not to use dating apps in these parts of Mexico following kidnapping reports
https://t.co/ijxji73G7u
— EL IMPARCIAL (@elimparcialcom) June 3, 2025

Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus stated that these dating apps-related cases are not considered kidnappings, but rather extortion incidents stemming from voluntary meetings arranged through social media.

He downplayed the legal definition while acknowledging the existence of the phenomenon.

This was highlighted by EFE.

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