The Caribbean’s pristine beaches and vibrant culture attract millions of visitors annually, but alongside legitimate businesses, opportunistic scammers have developed sophisticated schemes to separate tourists from their money.
This guide highlights common scams across 15 popular destinations, helping travelers stay vigilant without paranoia. Like any tourist destination worldwide, awareness and common sense are your best defenses.
Jamaica – Kingston and Montego Bay
The island’s tourism hotspots occasionally see the ‘friendly local guide’ scam, where unsolicited helpers offer tours and then demand excessive payment. More concerning are fake taxi services operating around cruise ports and airports.
Always use licensed JUTA taxis identifiable by their red license plates.
Dominican Republic – Punta Cana
Time-share presentations remain a persistent issue, with ‘free’ resort tours turning into high-pressure sales tactics. Street vendors sometimes switch currency during transactions, returning change in less valuable Dominican pesos when you’ve paid in US dollars.
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Bahamas – Nassau
Paradise Island has seen a rise in fake jewelry scams, where sellers claim pieces are ‘authentic Bahamian crafts’ but are mass-produced imports. Water sports rental schemes also persist, with operators adding hidden fees or ‘damage’ charges after use.
Puerto Rico – San Juan
The historic district experiences the classic ‘spill scam’ – someone ‘accidentally’ stains your clothes, then directs you to their friend’s overpriced cleaning service. ATM skimming has also become more sophisticated around tourist areas.
St. Maarten/St. Martin
Both the Dutch and French sides report cases of vacation rental fraud, where tourists arrive to find their pre-paid accommodation doesn’t exist. Jet ski operators sometimes falsely claim customers damaged equipment to extract additional fees.
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Trinidad and Tobago – Port of Spain
Credit card cloning has emerged as a significant concern, particularly in smaller establishments. The ‘broken meter’ taxi scam remains common, especially during carnival season when demand peaks.
Barbados – Bridgetown
Street vendors occasionally employ the ‘wrapper switch’ – showing authentic items but packaging counterfeits for sale. Some tour operators advertise ‘exclusive’ beaches that are public access.
US Virgin Islands – St. Thomas
Timeshare resale scams target existing owners, promising to sell their properties for inflated prices. Duty-free shopping scams involve stores inflating ‘original’ prices to make discounts appear more substantial.
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Cayman Islands – George Town
Investment scams targeting wealthy tourists have become more sophisticated, often involving fake financial advisors. Some diving operators cut corners on safety while maintaining premium prices.
Turks and Caicos – Providenciales
Vacation rental scams proliferate on social media, featuring stolen photos and non-existent properties. Restaurant bill padding occurs occasionally, especially during peak season.
Aruba – Oranjestad
Casino scams include rigged slot machines in unlicensed establishments. Some tour operators sell ‘exclusive’ packages that merely combine publicly available activities at marked-up prices.
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St. Lucia – Castries
The ‘art student’ scam has appeared, where supposed students sell mass-produced paintings as original work. Water taxi operators sometimes quote one price but demand more upon arrival.
Antigua and Barbuda – St. John’s
Counterfeit luxury goods schemes operate around cruise ports. Some vendors sell ‘local’ rum that’s actually imported and relabeled cheaper spirits.
Grenada – St. George’s
Spice market vendors occasionally use rigged scales when selling by weight. Tour packages sometimes exclude mentioned activities, requiring additional payment on-site.
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British Virgin Islands – Road Town
Charter boat scams involve inferior vessels than those advertised. Some operators charge ‘mandatory’ fees for services that should be included in the quoted price.
Enjoy The Caribbean With Caution
While these scams might seem daunting, they shouldn’t deter you from experiencing the Caribbean’s genuine warmth and beauty.
Most tourists never encounter problems, and basic precautions go a long way: research thoroughly, book through reputable companies, maintain a healthy skepticism toward too-good-to-be-true offers, and trust your instincts.
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