Monthly Risk Spotlight: December 2025

AMERICAS

Swipe with Caution: Latin America’s Growing Digital Fraud Risk
Travelers to Latin America are increasingly facing a less visible yet highly disruptive threat: digital fraud. Unlike street crime or pickpocketing, these scams unfold silently and are often only discovered when a bank account is drained or a loyalty account is compromised. As the region undergoes a rapid digital transformation, criminals are capitalizing on tourists’ growing reliance on smartphones, mobile payments, and online bookings.

Latin America now boasts one of the highest internet penetration rates globally, with over 75% of the population online. This connectivity is convenient for both locals and visitors, fueling mobile payments, ride-hailing, and digital tourism platforms. But it also opens the door to a new class of fraud. Threats are no longer limited to email phishing: scams now include voice messages, deepfake videos impersonating hotel staff, and fake booking sites designed to harvest credentials.

In Brazil, criminals have exploited instant payment platforms to coerce real-time transfers. In Mexico, phishing campaigns imitating tax authorities and local banks have defrauded users, targeting both local and foreign nationals alike.  Fraud targeting airline and hotel loyalty programs is also on the rise, with miles and points from inadequately secured accounts being stolen and resold.

These scams are particularly dangerous for travelers because they’re carefully tailored to the local environment. Threat actors create Spanish-language phishing kits, distribute fake QR codes at restaurants, and set up illegitimate Wi-Fi networks at airports. They routinely target apps used daily by tourists, such as rideshare, food delivery, or digital guide tools. Increasingly, these schemes are backed by “fraud-as-a-service” models, where prebuilt scam infrastructure is rented on a subscription basis, making industrial-scale attacks more common.

Surveys indicate that nearly four in ten Latin Americans have fallen victim to digital fraud, a figure that continues to climb. For foreign visitors, this means that cybercrime is no longer a niche or unlikely threat; it’s a present and evolving risk that can disrupt itineraries, compromise financial security, and damage trust in local infrastructure.

Mitigation starts before departure. Travelers should secure their digital footprint by enabling two-factor authentication, using strong and unique passwords, avoiding public Wi-Fi for financial transactions, and keeping devices up to date. On the ground, verify QR codes, use official booking platforms, and treat unsolicited messages, even voice notes or apparent “staff” communications, with caution.

Organizations sending employees or students abroad should ensure that cybersecurity awareness is integrated into broader duty-of-care protocols. Cyber hygiene is no longer optional; it’s essential.

Latin America remains an exciting and rewarding region to visit, rich in culture, opportunity, and growth. But as its digital economy expands, so too do the tools available to cybercriminals. For today’s traveler, staying safe means thinking digitally as well as physically.

MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA (MENA)

Escalating Tensions in the West Bank: Settler Violence Against Foreign Nationals
Settler violence in the West Bank has risen sharply in 2025, with several incidents now directly affecting foreign nationals, a notable escalation in both frequency and severity. These attacks, ranging from intimidation and theft to physical assault and property damage, often occur with minimal state intervention or follow-up. This environment of low accountability has increased concern among foreign volunteers, humanitarian workers, journalists, and other personnel operating in the territory. Compounding this, renewed political momentum behind proposed Israeli annexation legislation has heightened settler activity, intensified local tensions, and raised the overall risk profile for travel and operations across the West Bank.

On November 30, three Italian volunteers and one Canadian national were beaten and robbed by a group of masked assailants on the outskirts of Jericho (Jericho Governorate). The targeting of foreign activists may indicate retaliatory acts against groups perceived as supporting Palestinian communities, particularly during the annual olive harvest when activists join Palestinian farmers and accompaniment programs are most active. Such incidents are becoming more frequent; foreign activists report intimidation, harassment, and theft of passports and phones. Since early 2025, the United Nations (UN) has recorded more than 1,600 settler attacks resulting in fatalities or property damage across 270 Palestinian communities, primarily in Ramallah, Nablus, and Hebron governorates.

A permissive environment, shaped by limited government accountability, slow or inconclusive investigations, and public rhetoric from far-right officials, has contributed to a growing sense of impunity. In one high-profile case, 32 foreign activists assisting with olive harvesting in Nablus Governorate were deported. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir justified the deportations by connecting the activists to the Palestinian non-profit Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC). His continued advocacy for annexation has emboldened hardline settler groups and contributed to a climate in which violence is becoming more normalized.

Given the increasingly volatile environment, organizations operating in the West Bank should adopt enhanced TRM measures. Pre-departure briefings must cover the political landscape, known hotspots, historical patterns of tension, and current trigger events. Travel within high-risk areas requires securing accommodation and transportation through vetted local partners with deep situational awareness. Organizations should implement mandatory check-in procedures, GPS-based traveler tracking, and rapid escalation pathways to allow immediate action during incidents. Crisis-management plans should include contingencies for road closures, sudden protests, localized clashes, or restrictions on movement imposed by security forces.

In the near term, debate or passage of annexation legislation is likely to embolden hardline settler factions, potentially resulting in a further uptick in attacks targeting both Palestinians and foreign nationals. International partners, including the United States (U.S.), the United Kingdom (UK), and Canada may update their travel advisories to reflect the elevated risk of civil unrest and extremist violence. As tensions continue, it remains essential for organizations and travelers to adhere to official advisories, adjust security protocols accordingly, and maintain flexible crisis-response plans to account for rapidly evolving conditions.

ASIA-PACIFIC (APAC)

Rising Water, Rising Risks: Travel and Business Impacts in Southeast Asia
In late November 2025, an unprecedented sequence of tropical storms, including Cyclone Senyar, Cyclone Ditwah, and Typhoon Koto, triggered significant flooding and landslides across Southeast Asia. These storms highlight a growing trend: climate-driven weather volatility is amplifying operational and travel risks in the region, signaling that future typhoon seasons may bring even greater disruption.

The most severely affected areas include Indonesia’s North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh provinces; southern Thailand; and Sri Lanka’s Western and Central provinces. Across the region, over a million people were displaced, and at least 1,500 lives were lost, according to local authorities. The storms caused widespread disruption to transportation networks, including roads and airports, as well as telecommunications services in all three countries.

Environmental degradation and underinvestment in infrastructure significantly worsened the impact of these storms. Decades of deforestation in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, driven by mining, palm oil expansion, and illegal logging, have stripped away natural defenses that once absorbed rainfall and mitigated flooding and landslides. Meanwhile, many urban centers across the region lack basic flood-prevention measures, such as stormwater drainage systems and reinforced levees. The simultaneous breakdown of telecommunications, roads, and bridges can hamper rescue operations, disrupt supply chains, and escalate public health risks. For travelers and organizations, even moderate weather events can trigger disproportionate disruption when natural buffers are gone and systems are unprepared.

In response, the governments of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand have announced a series of disaster risk reduction initiatives. Indonesia has pledged to tighten enforcement on illegal logging and is reviewing environmental permits for operators in flood-prone areas. Sri Lanka plans to accelerate upgrades to its flood defenses and early warning systems. Thailand has announced intentions to invest in climate-resilient infrastructure, including elevated roadways and drainage improvements, and expand community preparedness programs. However, limited governance, corruption, and poor economic planning may hamper the effective implementation of these measures.

Looking ahead to Southeast Asia’s 2026 typhoon season, organizations should prepare for a higher likelihood of storm clusters and back-to-back weather events. Storms in the region are becoming larger and more disruptive due to rising ocean temperatures and the degradation of natural geography. In the coming year, travelers and organizations should anticipate cascading impacts, including prolonged transportation delays, power outages, supply chain bottlenecks, and heightened health risks associated with flood exposure. As the region enters its May–November typhoon window, organizations should go beyond monitoring weather forecasts and factor climate adaptation gaps into their 2026 risk outlook, as this will be critical for operational continuity and strategic planning.

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

DRC Peace Framework: A Diplomatic Breakthrough
A newly brokered peace framework between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the March 23 Movement (M23) marks diplomatic progress; however, it is unlikely to alter the conflict-driven security environment that shapes mobility and state authority in eastern DRC. In November 2025, the DRC government and M23 signed a framework agreement for a peace deal. The agreement, brokered in Doha (Qatar) by officials from Qatar, the United States (U.S.), and the African Union (AU), represents a significant diplomatic step toward ending decades of violence in eastern DRC. The newly signed framework agreement is designed to pave the way for a comprehensive peace deal. The measures outlined aim to create conditions for stability, but none of the provisions have been implemented yet, and all depend on cooperation from armed actors who have ignored past agreements. Mediators have emphasized that this is only a starting point and may be diplomatically significant; however, it’s unlikely to reshape mobility or security in the near term. Previous peace efforts have repeatedly collapsed, and conditions remain volatile, making the DRC a notably high-risk destination.

M23 is a paramilitary group that regained strength in 2021, allegedly with support from neighboring Rwanda. This perceived backing has fueled instability and influenced control over roads, mines, and access to communities in the DRC. The conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced millions, creating one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. M23 has been implicated in mass killings, sexual violence, and forced child recruitment. These realities underscore the region’s high volatility, even those traveling for humanitarian or business purposes.

The roots of this conflict date back to the failed implementation of the March 23, 2009, peace accords, which were intended to integrate the National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP) into the Congolese military. When the government failed to uphold its commitments, the CNDP splintered into the M23, reigniting violence in the mineral-rich North and South Kivu regions. Over the years, M23 has staged mutinies, seized strategic towns, and established armed roadblocks in an effort to extort civilians. Previous negotiations have often triggered new fractures during disarmament phases, posing a risk that may be repeated when implementation begins under this deal.

For travelers, this means the security environment remains unpredictable and dangerous. Armed clashes, looting, and extortion are common in rebel-controlled areas, and foreign nationals risk kidnapping or violence if they enter these zones. Key regions to avoid include North and South Kivu, Goma, Rubaya, and border areas in eastern DRC. Even major cities are not immune to instability, and infrastructure disruptions, such as road closures and flight cancellations, are frequent during periods of heightened conflict.

Mobility in eastern DRC will continue to be governed by armed actors controlling mines, roads, and border routes. Negotiation with non-state groups, not formal agreements, will remain the basis for access, logistics, and assistance operations. Staying informed about M23 activity through reliable sources is critical. Additionally, the country is likely to experience limited access to medical care, unreliable communications, and potential shortages of food and fuel in conflict-affected areas. Even if implemented, the framework will not alter the fundamental reality that armed groups, not government institutions, determine mobility, access, and security outcomes across eastern DRC. Until the state can assert control over mineral revenue, cross-border taxation, and armed enforcement, the region will remain a negotiation-based environment. For the travel and assistance sector, this agreement is significant diplomatically, but it does not reduce risk; it merely reshapes the timelines and triggers that may drive the next escalation or fragmentation.

EUROPE AND THE COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES (ECIS)

Rising Safety Concerns: Europe’s Public Transport Networks
A series of recent rail accidents and a notable rise in violent crime at major transport hubs have increased concern over the safety and reliability of Europe’s public transport networks. While European rail and metro systems are widely regarded as modern and efficient, emerging trends suggest growing risks that may affect both local commuters and foreign travelers in the months ahead.

Germany, home to one of Europe’s most extensive rail networks, has reported a concerning uptick in serious crime at railway stations. According to Germany’s Federal Police, violent offences at train stations increased by 6% in 2024, while sexual crimes rose by nearly 20%. Major hubs such as Berlin, Dortmund, Hanover, and Cologne reported the highest volumes of incidents. Although overall crime decreased, the decline was confined mainly to petty and non-violent offences. This indicates a shift in crime at transportation hubs, with a greater proportion now involving violence, harassment, or sexual misconduct.

Concurrently with rising crime levels, several rail accidents across Europe have exposed vulnerabilities within regional transportation systems. In November 2025, two high-impact collisions occurred in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, injuring more than 130 passengers. Early investigations point to human error and potential equipment failures. These incidents followed earlier derailments in Austria, Germany, and Spain between May and July, which collectively resulted in multiple fatalities and more than 100 injuries. While statistically rare, the clustering of such accidents within a short period has raised questions about the condition of ageing infrastructure, staffing shortages, and operational pressures across national rail networks.

For travelers, these developments have practical and immediate implications. Larger stations may experience intensified security checks, increased law enforcement visibility, and intermittent closures, particularly during peak travel periods. Rising violent crime raises the risk of theft, harassment, or assault, particularly at night, on crowded platforms, or when navigating unfamiliar stations. Women and solo travelers may feel a disproportionate impact, as sexual harassment incidents have risen sharply at key transport hubs.

Rail accidents, meanwhile, can lead to cascading disruptions across interconnected rail corridors. Travelers may encounter sudden delays, emergency evacuations, platform overcrowding, or last-minute diversions to alternative routes. Those unfamiliar with local emergency procedures or language cues may be especially vulnerable during chaotic or fast-changing incidents. In cities experiencing ongoing labor shortages, police and rail personnel may also be stretched thin, resulting in slower emergency response times.

Looking ahead, travelers should anticipate continued security reviews, targeted police patrols, and periodic service disruptions as European governments respond to rising public scrutiny. With winter travel reaching its peak, travelers are advised to maintain situational awareness in crowded stations, secure valuables, monitor transport alerts, and allow additional time for journeys across affected regions. Awareness and preparedness remain key to navigating Europe’s transport networks safely amid heightened risk.

About On Call International:
When traveling, every problem is unique–a medical crisis, a political threat, even a common accident such as a missed flight. But every solution starts with customized care that ensures travelers are safe and protected. That’s why for over 30 years, On Call International has provided fully-customized travel risk management and emergency assistance services protecting millions of travelers, their families, and their organizations. Visit www.oncallinternational.com and follow us on LinkedIn to learn more.