Tourists are often seen as prime targets for crime. Experts suggest blending in with the crowd, so as not to attract the wrong kind of attention

January 14, 2000
Web posted at: 4:14 p.m. EST (2114 GMT)

By Beverly Schuch
CNN Financial News Correspondent

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Nearly half of the 23 million Americans who travel abroad each year do so on business. And they're increasingly going to places that are not as safe as their hometowns. Dangers range from scams and petty street crime to full-blown kidnapping.

So-called "express kidnapping," in which victims are seized for just a few hours, is one of the risks of doing business in places such as Mexico or Russia.

Security expert William Daly predicts "an age of terrorism"

"People are taken to the ATM -- sometimes late at night -- and forced to withdraw the limit and then held over just after midnight and forced to withdraw the next day's limit," says William Daly, managing director of Kroll Associates, an investigative and risk management firm.

Security experts like Daly predict acts of terrorism will continue to increase in frequency.

"We see the next year and years to come as an age of terrorism, especially as Americans travel to different parts of the world and start to influence different economies," he says.

The best way to avoid becoming a victim is to be aware of your surroundings:

• If possible, do not go out alone.
• Never linger in crowded public places such as airports and hotel lobbies.
• Be unpredictable and change your routine as much as possible.
• Most important, keep a low profile.

	RELATED SITES
U.S. State Department: Travel Warnings National Business Travel Association

Blending in is key, says Norman Sherlock, executive director of the National Business Travel Association. "Your money and expensive luggage and jewelry work against you in travel. It can make you a target."

There are a range of services to help business people travel safely. If your company doesn't provide security briefings, the U.S. State Department and National Business Travel Association Web sites have detailed information about which countries may pose a risk and why.

CNN Weather Forecasts
City Profiles: In-depth guides to more than 50 cities
World Maps and Guides: Maps and related site links
Driving Directions
Currency Converter

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.