19/07/2024
*Please be advised*
- I hope this is not against any rules or guidelines for the page’s -
- no names of any parties, victims or alleged scammer(s)
I’m sure some people who follow these pages are aware of these incidents but I was notified of another incident today from a villa owner that books their own villa. I do not know the date details at the moment of when this occurred as the victims just got ahold of real owners who book.
We have been informed that someone or multiple individuals are taking full payments for false services related to Jeep rentals, villa rentals, boat trips, provisioning services, reservations, and more, scamming people out of tens of thousands of dollars and leaving some vacationers stranded without a place to stay.
Fortunately, we have not experienced this issue at any of our properties at this moment, but have heard of 3 separate incidents as of June 29th, 2024, inwhich the victims had everything planned and payed for by Venmo months in advance. From one source the scammer even had the balls to message the victims mid flight, telling them their jeep rental was located at the Redhook ferry terminal.
If you are planning a vacation, whether on St. John, the Virgin Islands, or anywhere in the world, please be cautious. Typically, property management and villa rental companies, as well as individual owners on St. John, do not request payment in full upfront unless the booking is within their cancellation policy period. Payments are generally split and accompanied by rental agreements or contracts. Reputable property management and villa rental companies, or private villa owners, do not request cash payments via Venmo, Zelle, cryptocurrency, Apple Pay, or similar platforms for rental vehicles, flights, boat charters, or other activities on behalf of third-party companies.
There are a few well-respected and reputable companies and solo renters that provide additional services like car rentals. A quick Google search can save you from a potential nightmare. Ensure you research who and where you are renting from, check reviews, and look for any red flags. Direct payments can save you money by avoiding service fees from third-party websites, but it is crucial to ensure you are booking from a reputable source, whether a business or an individual.
You can always reach out on pages such as this one, where people will gladly help you verify the legitimacy of a person or company. Be aware that it is possible to spoof or fake VRBO and Airbnb pages, even if they have reviews. Please take a few minutes to research all rentals thoroughly.
Thank you for your attention and stay safe while planning your vacations.