(KTLA) – Officials at the United States Embassy and its consulates in Mexico have confirmed several reports of Americans being kidnapped by individuals they met on a dating app, federal officials announced.

In a security alert issued June 2, authorities at the U.S. Consulate in Guadalajara issued a warning about the incidents, all occurring in recent months in the areas of Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Nayarit.

“Victims and their families in the United States have at times been extorted for large sums of money to secure their release,” officials said. “Please be aware that this type of violence is not limited to one geographic area. Travelers should use caution when meeting strangers.”

While officials did not name any specific dating apps, they provided several tips for safer travel. Among

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