UPDATED 2.09pm: A Kiwi sportsman in Rio says he was kidnapped by men in police uniform and forced to withdraw money from ATMs.

Jiu-Jitsu trainer Jason Lee has written on facebook he was threatened with arrest if he did not get into a car and accompany two men, dressed in police uniforms.

They took him to two ATMs to withdraw a large sum of money for a bribe.

Jason Lee posts he's not sure what's more depressing, the fact this stuff is happening to foreigners so close to the Olympic Games or the fact that Brazilians have to live in a society that enables this on a daily basis.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson has confirmed the ministry is aware of the incident and is following up on it.

The spokesperson says the ministry's Safe Travel warning to travellers warns "express kidnappings" are common in Rio and other major cities in Brazil.

They say New Zealanders should use ATMs in public places during daylight hours or within bank branches, and contact Brazilian Tourist Police if they are victims of crime.