Officials or people posing as officials, may try to detain or extort money from foreigners, including at the airport.
Petty crime
In Dakar, muggings and robberies are common. You’re most at risk of petty crime in large crowds. Look out for:
pickpockets
bag snatchers
thieves on motorbikes
Criminals target foreigners, especially at night.
Home robberies also happen often.
To protect yourself from crime:
don’t walk alone
don’t carry bags that are easy to snatch
avoid walking at night, especially in isolated areas
always lock your doors, even when you’re inside
always keep vehicle doors and windows locked, even when moving
Scams
Internet scams come in many forms, including romance, friendship, business and job offers. These scams often originate in West African countries, including Senegal.
If you travel to Senegal as a scam victim, you may be at risk of kidnapping, assault and robbery. Some scam victims have been killed.
In commercial scams, criminals ask for details of safe bank accounts to transfer large amounts of money. They may:
promise a percentage of this amount to you
send fake cashier cheques for urgent goods shipments
request large fees for a fake government contract
extort money from you for a bogus business opportunity
In relationship scams, criminals often meet their victims through internet dating sites or chat rooms. Once a connection develops, they may ask you to send money so they can come to Australia.
After you transfer money, the relationship ends.
They may also ask you to come to Africa to meet them.
To protect yourself from scams:
be wary of online contact from people you don’t know
don’t send money to anyone until you’ve thoroughly checked them
If you suspect a scam, get legal advice.
Don’t travel to Senegal to get your money back or to get revenge. You could be in danger.
Cyber security
You may be at risk of cyber-based threats during overseas travel to any country. Digital identity theft is a growing concern. Your devices and personal data can be compromised, especially if you’re connecting to Wi-Fi, using or connecting to shared or public computers, or to Bluetooth.
Social media can also be risky in destinations where there are social or political tensions, or laws that may seem unreasonable by Australian standards. Travellers have been arrested for things they have said on social media. Don’t comment on local or political events on your social media.
More information:
Source link : https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/senegal
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Publish date : 2024-04-15 07:00:00
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