Did You 

Know? 

Groups of 

children and 

teens may 

swarm you 

and forcibly 

steal your 

personal 

belongings.

Reminder

Our country will be judged by the impression you 

make. As an American abroad, you serve as a 

spokesperson for the United States. 

Additional travel security tips and country threat 

assessments are available from the FBI upon 

request.

Your local FBI office #:

If you can do without the device, Do Not Take It!

Do not leave electronic devices unattended. Do 

not transport them (or anything valuable) in your 

checked baggage. Shield passwords from view. 

Avoid Wi-Fi networks if you can. In some countries 

they are controlled by security services; in all cases 

they are insecure. 

Sanitize your laptop, telephone, 

& PDA, prior to travel and ensure 

no sensitive contact, research, or 

personal data is on them. Backup all information you take and 

leave that at home. If feasible, 

use a different phone and a new 

email account while traveling. 

Use up-to-date protections for antivirus, spyware, 

security patches, and firewalls. Don’t use thumb 

drives given to you – they may be compromised.

Clear your browser after each use: delete history 

files, caches, cookies, and temporary internet files. 

In most countries, you have no expectation of 

privacy in Internet cafes, hotels, airplanes, offices, 

or public spaces. All information you 

send electronically (fax, computer, 

telephone) can be intercepted, 

especially wireless communications. 

If information might be valuable to 

another government, company or 

group, you should assume that it will be intercepted 

and retained. Security services and criminals can 

track your movements using your mobile phone and 

can turn on the microphone in your device even when 

you think it is turned off. 

Beware of “phishing.” Foreign security services 

and criminals are adept at pretending to be someone 

you trust in order to obtain personal or sensitive 

information.

If your device is stolen, report it immediately to the 

local US Embassy or Consulate. 

Change all your passwords including your 

voicemail and check devices for malware when you 

return. 

SAFETY AND SECURITY 

for US Students Traveling Abroad

U.S. Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Investigation

“Act Smart. Be Safe.”

Telephone, Laptop & PDA Security

During the Beijing Olympics, hotels were 

required to install software so law enforcement 

could monitor the Internet activity of hotel 

guests. Cyber criminals from numerous countries 

buy and sell stolen financial information 

including credit card data and login 

credentials (user names and passwords).

www.fbi.gov

Report any unusual circumstances or noteworthy incidents to your study abroad program manager 

and to the FBI. Notifying the FBI will help ensure that future travel advisories take into consideration the 

circumstances and incidents you encountered. It is not uncommon for foreigners to contact you after your 

return. The FBI may be able to help you determine if these contacts pose any risk to you. 

Upon Your Return

Important Numbers

US Embassy/Consulate Phone & Address:

POC in country:

Living and studying in 

another country will be an 

enriching and rewarding 

experience, especially if 

you are prepared and 

take certain precautions. 

This brochure will 

introduce you to threats 

you may face and provide 

tips on avoiding unsafe 

situations. Following 

these precautions will 

reduce your risk of 

encountering problems. 

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs

in the areas you plan to travel. You are expected to 

obey their laws, which may include dress standards, 

photography restrictions, telecommunication 

restrictions, curfews, etc. 

Plan your wardrobe

so that it does 

not offend the 

locals, nor 

draw unwanted 

attention 

to yourself. 

Americans are 

perceived as 

wealthy and are 

targeted for pick 

pocketing and other crimes. Do not wear expensivelooking jewelry and avoid wearing American team 

sports shirts or baseball caps that might indicate you 

are an American. 

Make copies of your passport, airplane ticket, 

driver’s license, and credit cards that you take with 

you. Keep one copy at home; carry a second copy 

with you but separate from the originals. This will help 

speed the replacement process if they are lost or 

stolen. 

Do not take unnecessary identification or credit 

cards in case they are stolen. Take only what is 

necessary. Obtain traveler’s checks if needed.

Establish points of contact for your family to 

contact and for your foreign hosts to contact in the 

event of an emergency. Register your trip with the 

State Department. 

Take any necessary medications with you in their 

original containers and keep them in your carry-on 

luggage (not checked baggage) during the flight. 

Verify you have adequate medical insurance. 

Obtain specific pre-travel country risk 

assessments for the country/countries you plan to 

visit from your study abroad program manager, the 

State Department, and/or the FBI. There may be 

specific issues you should be aware of and prepare 

for that will ensure your safety and peace of mind.

Useful websites:

State Department Students Abroad: 

www.studentsabroad.state.gov

State Department travel website: 

www.state.gov/travel

Center for Disease Control for Travelers’ Health:

www.cdc.gov 

Do not leave drinks unattended – someone could 

slip a drug into it that causes amnesia and sleep. 

Avoid long waits in lobbies and terminals, if 

possible. These areas may harbor pickpockets, 

thieves, and violent offenders. Laptop theft is 

especially common in airports. 

Avoid civil disturbances and obey local laws. If 

you come upon a demonstration or rally, be careful; 

in the confusion you could be arrested or detained 

even though you are a bystander. Be mindful that in 

many countries, it is prohibited to speak derogatorily 

of the government and its leaders. It may be illegal 

to take photographs of train stations, government 

buildings, religious symbols, and military installations. 

Avoid actions that are illegal, improper or 

indiscreet. Avoid offers of sexual companionship; 

they may lead to a room raid, photography, and 

blackmail. Do not attempt to keep up with your hosts 

in social drinking. Do not engage in black market 

activities. Do not sell your possessions. Do not bring 

in or purchase illegal drugs or pornography. Do not 

seek out political or religious dissidents. Do not 

accept packages or letters for delivery to another 

location. 

If you are arrested for any reason, ask to notify 

the nearest US Embassy or Consulate. A consular 

officer cannot arrange for free legal aid or provide 

bail money, but they can assist you. Do not admit to 

wrongdoing or sign anything. Do not agree to help 

your detainer. 

Keep a low profile and shun publicity. Do not 

discuss personal or family information with local 

news media, and as a general rule, be careful what 

information you share with foreigners. They may 

have been directed to obtain information about you 

for duplicitous purposes and may use what they learn 

to target or use against you. 

Evade criminals and terrorists by being aware 

of your surroundings and alert to the possibility of 

surveillance. Take mental notes of anyone following 

you and promptly report it to the appropriate security 

officials and/or the US Embassy or Consulate. In 

general, criminals will strike when their target seems 

most vulnerable and lax about his/her security. If 

anyone grabs you, make a scene-- yell, fight and try 

to get away! If you are kidnapped, remain alert and 

establish a program of mental and physical activity 

for yourself; try to remain calm and non-threatening. 

Beware of new acquaintances who probe for 

information about you or who attempt to get you 

involved in what could become a compromising 

situation. 

Do not gossip about character flaws, financial 

problems, emotional relationships, or other difficulties 

of your fellow Americans or yourself. This information 

is eagerly sought by those who want to exploit you or 

your fellow travelers. 

Beware that your conversations may not be 

private or secure. Unlike the United States, most 

other countries do not have legal restrictions against 

technical surveillance. Most foreign security services 

have various means of screening incoming visitors 

to identify persons of potential intelligence interest. 

They also have well established contacts with hotels 

and common hosts that can assist in various forms of 

monitoring you.

Protect your passport! Theft of American tourist 

passports is on the rise. It is recommended that you 

carry your passport in a front pants 

pocket or in a pouch hidden in your 

clothes, and that it remain with you 

at all times. Some hotels require you 

to leave it at the desk during your 

stay and they may use it to register 

you with the local police--a routine policy. Ask for a 

receipt and be sure to retrieve your passport before 

continuing your trip. If your passport is lost or stolen, 

report the situation immediately to the nearest US 

Embassy or Consulate.

Do not invite strangers into your room. 

Be courteous and cooperative when processing 

through customs. Do not leave your bags 

unattended. Stay alert.

Use only authorized taxis. Passengers have been 

robbed or kidnapped when using “gypsy” taxis. 

Avoid traveling alone, especially after dark. Be 

conscious of your surroundings and avoid areas you 

believe may put your personal safety at risk. Be wary 

of street vendors and innocent-looking youngsters. 

While one person has your attention, another may be 

picking your pocket.

Do not carry large amounts of 

cash. Always deal with reputable 

currency exchange officials or you 

run the risk of receiving counterfeit 

currency. Keep a record of your 

financial transactions. 

Beware that theft from sleeping compartments on 

trains is common.

Two American students on study abroad 

talked privately about the lighting in their 

apartment. The next day, a light that had been 

out for weeks was working.

In an international airport, a thief positioned 

himself to walk in front of a traveler who was 

walking with his roll bag. The thief stopped 

abruptly in front of the traveler causing the 

traveler to also stop. A second thief was 

following and quickly removed the traveler’s 

laptop from his roll bag and disappeared.

An American was given a letter by a man he 

had never met. He tried to return the letter 

but the man ran away. That evening, national 

security officers visited the American, 

admonished him for taking the letter, and 

required him to sign a statement concerning 

the event.

“Turkey drop” scam: a person drops money 

in front of a victim while an accomplice waits 

for the money to be picked up and suggests 

splitting it. The first person returns and 

accuses both of stealing the money. This 

usually results in the victim’s money being 

stolen.

Center for Disease Control for Travelers’ Health: www.cdc.gov

Before You Go

During Your Stay

State Department’s travel website: www.state.gov/travel