Overall Crime and Safety Situation
1 Street crime is a common problem occurring even in broad daylight, especially in deserted areas, and in the evenings, especially late at night. Violent crime such as street muggings, armed robbery, home invasions, kidnapping (especially flash kidnappings), and sexual assault are common particularly in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Recife, Salvador and other large cities. Carjacking is also common, particularly in major cities. Brazil has one of the highest homicide rates in the world. Violence and crime, often involving firearms or other weapons, can occur anywhere and at any time. Hence you are advised to exercise a high degree of caution while travelling in Brazil.
2 Tourists are often targeted by criminals. Crime syndicates are known to operate in airports targeting unsuspecting tourists upon arrival. You should always keep an eye on all your luggage, handbags and other belongings. Petty crimes such as pickpocketing, loss of handcarry bags containing passports and wallets are common in public areas of the airports.
3 Robbery and assault can also occur on Brazilian beaches. Minimise your personal belongings at the beach and leave passports, wallets and other valuables in a secure place. Isolated areas on the beach should be avoided, particularly in the early evening, when a high number of robberies occur. Sexual assaults have been reported in coastal tourist areas. Some armed groups in Sao Paulo have also robbed patrons in restaurants, both in rich and poor neighbourhoods.
4 Thieves also operate in outdoor markets, in and around hotels, as well as around bus or train stations. Crime levels in shanty towns (favelas) are very high. Singaporeans are advised to avoid these areas, even with a well-organised tour group, and especially at night. Avoid wearing any jewellery, watches and carrying other valuable items such as iphone and luxury handbags. It is best to dress down, carry minimal cash and credit cards. Victims are often targeted for perceived wealth or value of personal possessions.
5 Use of a prepaid taxi ticket on arrival at the airport may reduce the risk of robbery as licensed taxis are generally required to have the photographic licence of the driver displayed. Tourists have been known to be robbed and assaulted when using unregistered taxis.
6 If you are renting a car, ‘flash kidnappings’ and car-jackings are significant threats. These occur when individuals are abducted for short periods for a quick payoff from the victim’s family, or through the forced use of the victims’ ATM cards for cash withdrawal. Vigilance is key. Alert Brazilians generally approach their car with their keys ready, drive with their doors locked and windows up, and do not remain for an extended period of time in parked vehicles. Take particular care if approached while sitting in a car or at traffic lights, especially at night. Flash kidnappings are common in major cities including Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Brasilia, Salvador and Recife. Victims are frequently released in remote areas. Victims should seek to alert authorities by approaching somebody at the nearest safe area, which could be a home or commercial establishment.
7 If you are robbed or are a victim of a flash kidnapping, it is recommended that you do not resist as these situations can quickly turn violent. Victims have been known to be seriously injured or even killed when resisting perpetrators.
Civil unrest/political tension
8 Large-scale protests occurred in many cities throughout Brazil, including Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia, Recife, Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre, Salvador, Curitiba and Belem. Demonstrations can occur at any time and can become violent with little or no warning, disrupting public and private transportation. We recommend Singaporeans avoid all demonstrations and protests. Monitor closely local media reports for information about planned demonstrations.
9 Industrial action also occurs intermittently in Brazil’s major cities. It is not uncommon for airport staff to take industrial action during major events or key holidays like during the Carnaval period. Passengers can experience considerable travel delays. We recommend Singaporeans monitor local media for information regarding expected industrial action and prepare for extended waits during these times.
Money and valuables
10 Banking facilities in Brazil such as ATMs and credit card machines may not be as reliable as in Singapore. You may encounter difficulties in withdrawing money despite ATMs displaying the Plus/Cirrus/Maestro logo. If so, you could try a number of different ATMs.
11 Before you leave Singapore, you should organise a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash or debit cards as Singapore currency is not accepted in Brazil. You should consult your Singapore bank to find out whether your ATM card will work in Brazil. You can also check with your Singapore bank if they have an affiliated bank in Brazil.
12 Credit cards are widely accepted for payment of goods and services in Brazil. However, credit card fraud and ATM tampering is also widespread in Brazil. Check your billing statements for unauthorised charges after your trip. To combat fraud and theft, many ATMs and banks do not permit withdrawals on foreign cards of more than R$300 per day. They may also reduce the amount that can be withdrawn at night.
13 It is advisable for you to make two photocopies of valuable documents such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home in Singapore. These copies can help expedite your claims and reports in case of loss of the originals.
14 Identity theft is a serious crime. Singapore passports are valuable and are highly attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, you are required to make a police report immediately and contact the Singapore Embassy as soon as possible.