I've spent over 20 years keeping business owners, executives & VIP's alive in 42 countries. Every threat expert knows the security risks of business owners being kidnapped; mugged & murdered overseas are increasing. Kidnap for ransom is also a growth business sector, as is kidnap for ransom insurance or K&R Insurance. The following travel security expert tips will help raise your security awareness & minimise your personal security risks. Travel Security Expert - Avoid 10 Things That Get Business Owners Kidnapped Or Killed #1 Under Estimating The Security Risks. The world of business travel has changed dramatically for business owners in the aftermath of September 11th and the subsequent global war on terror. Security experts all suggest you should heighten your security awareness. If you are a western business owner, director, executive or senior manager who travels overseas for business, then any professional security experts compiling your travel security threat assessment would designate the security risks as medium to high risk. Contemporary professional terrorists and organised criminals understand the politics of kidnap for ransom and K&R Insurance. Even western middle managers on an average western salary are considered lucrative kidnap for ransom targets because kidnappers know if the person is working for a large company then they are likely to pay out on the kidnap for ransom insurance policy. Every threat expert knows the security risks for business travellers are out there, they are very real, and you should never underestimate these security risks. Travel Security Expert - Avoid 10 Things That Get Business Owners Kidnapped Or Killed #2 Familiararity & Assumptions. Two security awareness phrases spring to mind. Familiarity breeds contempt, and a familiar sight provokes no attention. Security experts advise that terrorist groups and organised criminals utilise these two phrases to ensure the success of their kidnap for ransom insurance business. During several of my business protective service operations I have witnessed sane, rational and intelligent business owners lose all three of these sub conscious defensive functions the moment their aircraft lands in a foreign country. You might think it's a familiar sight to see an empty coke can under a nearby car in Mexico City. However to the trained eye of a threat expert the security risks indicate it could be a remote controlled improvised explosive device. Many business owners have been killed because criminals and mafia groups brought them into familiar surroundings in which their subconscious automatically made incorrect assumptions about it being a safe environment. Soviet Bloc Mafia groups are particularly skilled in facilitating this environment. Travel Security Expert - Avoid 10 Things That Get Business Owners Kidnapped Or Killed #3 Arrogance And Showing Off. During my 20 plus years providing security experts and threat expert close protection for business owners and directors. I have witnessed many security risks breaches instigated by the business owner-director under my protection. Several of these security awareness breaches were directly attributable to these business owners showing off, or being unnecessarily arrogant. Many successful business owners have not achieved success by being a meek little wall flower. They are vocal, occasionally loud, sometimes rude and for some strange reason when in an overseas destination, occasionally downright obnoxious. Most of these security risks problems manifest because many business owners have an enormous ego to stroke, and because many business owners talk far too much. Organised terrorists and organised criminals involved in the kidnap for ransom insurance business have low level foot soldiers mounting target intelligence and gathering intelligence on loud mouthed, arrogant business travellers who are showing off. Showing off and being overtly arrogant is a sure fire recipe for catching any prospective kidnappers attention. Travel Security Expert - Avoid 10 Things That Get Business Owners Kidnapped Or Killed #4 Habitual Behaviour All security experts and every individual threat expert will inform you that most business owners are most likely to be attacked or kidnapped when they are entering or leaving a building, or vehicle. One of the main reasons why, is because this is generally when every VIP is most vulnerable. When working overseas your security risks increase and so your security awareness needs to increase accordingly. Make sure you alter your routes and any other habitual behaviour that terrorist and criminal surveillance operatives may pick up on. i.e. if you are working in unfamiliar overseas location and you walk or drive to the same hotel bar every evening, then kidnappers seeking K&R Insurance finance will utilise your habitual behaviour against you. Travel Security Expert - Avoid 10 Things That Get Business Owners Kidnapped Or Killed #5 Lack of Security Awareness & Poor Observation Skills. Security experts and every threat expert call this lack of security awareness 'Condition White.' In its basic format this means the person is completely oblivious to perceived or actual security risks, threats and problems. For people going through their day to day existence in 'Condition White,' their observation skills are generally poor and they are unable to recognise increased security risks and threats. All good security awareness and counter measures should begin before you book your overseas trip. As an overseas business traveller your life is at risk and although the concept of 100% security is non-existent, there are simple security risks countermeasures which you can implement to ensure you are not presenting as a 'Soft Target' to criminals and kidnappers while overseas. Travel Security Expert - Avoid 10 Things That Get Business Owners Kidnapped Or Killed #6 Overt Corporate Lifestyle. To minimise the security risks to your personal safety while overseas it is wise not to adopt an overt corporate lifestyle. Remember professional terrorists, organised criminals and professional kidnappers seeking a K&R Insurance payout, pay for surveillance operatives to surveill high priced, up-market western style hotels to identify travelling western business owners, especially those operating in 'Condition White.' For example, security awareness dictates you should never carry a business briefcase. Dress down when travelling, don't use corporate luggage tags and stay away from the high class American and UK hotels whenever possible. And always avoid using a sign written corporate motor pool vehicle belonging to a western business, because adopting an overt corporate lifestyle overseas is a recipe for disaster. Travel Security Expert - Avoid 10 Things That Get Business Owners Kidnapped Or Killed #7 No Security Back Up Plan B. All security experts or a professional threat expert organises a security awareness back up plan when mapping out the threat assessment for any VIP under their protection. In the security risks industry this is generally referred to as 'Plan B.' It is not uncommon for security experts to have multiple alternative back up plans because no matter how good your security awareness plan is, Murphy's Law always materialises to screw things up. Murphy's Law can be summed up by the following; 'what can go wrong will go wrong.' Travel Security Expert - Avoid 10 Things That Get Business Owners Kidnapped Or Killed #8 Complacency. Security experts know that complacency kills. It's as simple, harsh and as brutal as that. Terrorists, criminals and kidnappers often strive to lull prospective targets into a false sense of security awareness, because complacency quickly follows and the victim becomes easy prey. To really understand complacency, think about the immediate aftermath of September 11th citizens initially accepted increased and unprecedented security awareness measures at airports, marine terminals and all borders. However in a relatively short time, complacency set in as citizens complained bitterly about being inconvienced at airport check in. When complacency sets in, security awareness levels drop and security risks increase. Travel Security Expert - Avoid 10 Things That Get Business Owners Kidnapped Or Killed #9 Not Trusting Your Gut Reaction Security experts say we are all blessed with our own sub conscious defence mechanism. Civilians call it trusting your gut reaction. Security experts call it the 'Fight or Flight Syndrome.' Without getting too technical, we are pre-programmed for fight or flight, and it happens in the blink of an eye. I've heard many a threat expert explain to security risks students that if something doesn't quite feel right, then you should always go with your gut reaction. I agree, because despite the very best security awareness planning I've often had to change tack because my gut was telling me something wasn't quite right. Travel Security Expert - Avoid 10 Things That Get Business Owners Kidnapped Or Killed #10 No Kidnap For Ransom K&R Insurance If ever the phrase a 'No Brainer' had a place in security, then it is when any business owner or traveller visits any overseas location without having a kidnap for ransom insurance policy or K&R Insurance. K&R Insurance is no longer reserved for multi millionaires. It is an affordable business expense which should be utilised by every business owner traveller visiting any destination overseas to conduct business. It's not necessarily going to prevent your kidnapping, although some policies come with caveats that you must attend a security risks awareness training programme. But having K&R insurance might mean you are released safely by your kidnappers.
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