Violent and petty crime
Crime levels are high in Sierra Leone, including in Freetown.
Common crimes include:
Home burglaries are increasing.
Security risks increase at night.
Some criminals target travellers and ex-pats.
To reduce your risk of crime:
watch your personal belongings
avoid walking in isolated areas or along dark streets, particularly at night
lock your accommodation, even when you’re in it
arrange your transport in advance
keep car windows up, and doors locked, even when moving
Reporting Crime
The Sierra Leone Police charge foreign nationals a fee for police reports. They will not issue a crime reference number, which is needed for most insurance claims, without a police report. Do not pay the police directly. Make your payment to the Sierra Leone Police Revenue Generation Fund account at the Bank of Sierra Leone and get a receipt.
There’s no charge if you want to report a crime but don’t need a crime reference number.
Scams and fraud
Internet scams come in many forms, including romance, friendship, business and job offers. These scams often come from West Africa and usually start in internet dating sites or chat rooms.
Once the online friendship develops, your friend or prospective marriage partner might ask you to send money so they can travel to Australia.
Criminals might also:
ask to transfer large amounts of money to an overseas bank account and offer you a percentage
provide fake cashier cheques for urgent shipments of goods
ask for large fees for fake government contracts
lure you to Sierra Leone for a business opportunity
In some cases, the relationship ends, and your money is gone. In other cases, you could be lured to Africa to meet your friend. You may be kidnapped, assaulted or robbed.
Don’t travel to Sierra Leone to get your money back. Some victims have been killed.
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’re the victim of a scam, get legal advice.
More information:
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/sierra-leone
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Publish date : 2024-05-09 07:00:00
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