FH and I are considering a trip to Rio de Janeiro. I have read a few posts on here about people returning from Rio or Brazil and finding out their credit card numbers were stolen. Is this a common thing?

We live in NYC, so crime is nothing new, and I'm pretty much wary and now how to handle myself, but just wondering should this be a concern for us?

Yes in Rio it is common for your credit card numbers to be abused. What I do is before I go I take inventory of my cards and the telephone numbers of them . I check frequently online the cards activity and if I see something not right then I am prepared to call and cancel. But I have never had a problem because mostly I use cash and when I do use my card it is with established reputable places.

Crime in the zona sul tourist area is mostly petty theft type of muggings. This will only happen if you walk at night late in dark areas where there are no people. Just use taxis at night and you will not have a problem

You have probably heard this already but don't wear jewellery when you are there. The first thing I do when I arrive at my hotel is put my rings in the safety box. I won't wear a watch and will only wear jewellery which is obviously costume.

I recently returned from a visit to Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. A thief stole my digital camera from out of my hands in Buenos Aires as I took a photo, but I returned from Rio with everything I brought with me.

I stayed at a hotel mid-beach along Copacabana. I felt confident placing my passport and wallet in the room safe. The only items I took with me (placed in my front pocket) were a day's worth of spending money and my driver's license. I wear only a simple non-flashy watch.

At night, I'd recommend taking a radio taxi for safety's sake. Two female friends were in Rio with me, and they would take a cab to get back to their nearby hotel after dinner.

I've read that it's smarter to explore Rio's downtown (Centro) area during a weekday, when lots of office workers are out and about. That's what I did, and I felt perfectly safe. I took both the bus and the clean, efficient, air-conditioned subway from Copacabana to/from Centro.

Just keep your wits about you like you would in any large city, and the worst thing that might happen will be a hangover.

I agree--I would shop by myself many days, and no one ever bothered me. I wore no jewelry other than a cheap watch and carried an old purse. Heck, I even drank too many caipirinhas one night and still made it home safe!