Key Takeaways
- The #1 reported scam is the The Fake ED Card Website
- 2 of 5 scams are rated high risk
- Use app-based ride services or official metered taxis instead of unmarked vehicles
- Never accept unsolicited offers from strangers near tourist sites in St Maarten
⚡ Quick Safety Tips
- Keep phones and valuables in secure pockets when in crowded areas
- Use only licensed taxis or app-based ride services
- Book tours and tickets through verified operators with online reviews
- Keep a copy of your passport separate from the original
Jump to a Scam
The 5 Scams
You're preparing for your St Maarten trip and search for the mandatory Entry/Departure card online.
The first result looks official -- it has government colors, the St Maarten flag, and professional design. You fill in your personal details and passport number, then hit a payment screen requesting 80 to 140 dollars as a 'processing fee.' The real ED card is completely free on the official government website. As Fox News, Travel and Tour World, and the St Maarten government itself have warned, sophisticated copycat websites have been charging tourists steep fees for a form that costs nothing. Your personal data may also be harvested for identity theft.
Red Flags
- The website charges any fee for the ED card -- the official process is completely free
- The URL doesn't match the official government domain (entry.sx or stmaartenehas.com)
- The site ranks in Google ads above the official government result
- It asks for credit card information or 'processing fees' ranging from 80 to 140 dollars
- The design mimics government branding but the URL is a generic domain name
How to Avoid
- Use ONLY the official St Maarten government ED card portal -- there is no fee to submit the form
- Navigate directly to the official site rather than clicking Google search results or ads
- Your airline or cruise line will provide the correct official link -- check their pre-arrival documentation
- Never enter passport or payment details on a site you haven't verified as official
- Report fake ED card websites to the St Maarten tourism authority at stmaartenehas.com
You're walking down Front Street in Philipsburg after getting off the cruise ship when a smiling ...
You're walking down Front Street in Philipsburg after getting off the cruise ship when a smiling person hands you a scratch card. You scratch it and -- triple sevens! You've 'won' 500 dollars! All you have to do is collect your prize at a nearby office. There, the free prize turns into a high-pressure timeshare presentation that lasts three hours. The '500 dollars' is actually a travel voucher requiring you to buy a membership costing 4,000 to 14,000 dollars. TripAdvisor reviewers and the BBB have documented this scam extensively, noting that the company behind it -- World Presidential Travel -- employs salespeople with fraud convictions, and every single scratch card is a 'winner.'
Red Flags
- Someone hands you a scratch card on Front Street that conveniently shows a winning combination
- The 'prize' requires you to visit an office or attend a presentation to claim it
- Every scratch card wins -- that alone tells you the prize is worthless
- The presentation location is a hotel or resort conference room set up for sales pitches
- They ask for your credit card details to 'verify your identity' before releasing the prize
How to Avoid
- Decline all scratch cards, prize offers, and 'free vacation' pitches from street promoters
- If you accidentally take a card, throw it away -- the prize is bait for a timeshare hard sell
- Never attend any 'brief presentation' to claim a prize -- it will last hours and involve extreme pressure
- Walk through Philipsburg with purpose and avoid eye contact with street promoters
- If pressured, say 'No, thank you' and keep moving -- you owe them nothing
You rent a car to explore both the Dutch and French sides of the island.
The pickup goes smoothly, and you drive off without closely inspecting the vehicle. When you return it, the agent discovers a scratch on the passenger door, a dent on the rocker panel, or a 'tampered' door lock. They charge 280 to 1,000 dollars against your deposit. As documented on the St Maarten tourism site and TripAdvisor forums, some rental companies have turned bogus damage claims into a revenue stream. One documented tactic involves the 'passenger side door-lock scam' where the lock is already damaged when you receive the car, but it's never checked at pickup -- only at return.
Red Flags
- The agent rushes through the pickup inspection and doesn't check door locks, rocker panels, or the roof
- Different staff handle pickup and return so you can't point to the same person who gave you the car
- The company requires a large cash deposit rather than a credit card hold
- The 'damage' is in an area that wasn't inspected at pickup, like the undercarriage or door locks
- The repair cost seems disproportionate -- 280 dollars for a scratched door lock
How to Avoid
- Take comprehensive timestamped photos and video of every surface, including door locks, roof, and undercarriage
- Specifically check and photograph passenger side door locks -- a known scam trigger point
- Rent from reputable international brands or operators recommended by your cruise line or hotel
- Never leave a cash deposit -- always use a credit card for chargeback protection
- Get the return agent to sign a damage-free release form before leaving the lot
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Get Free Itinerary →You're relaxing on Maho Beach watching planes land when a friendly operator approaches offering a ...
You're relaxing on Maho Beach watching planes land when a friendly operator approaches offering a 'special deal' on jet ski rental -- 50 dollars for 30 minutes. It sounds fair, so you agree. But 30 minutes turns into 20, the jet ski barely runs, and when you return, there's a fuel surcharge, an insurance fee, and a 'beach access charge' that bring the total to 120 dollars. If you protest, they point to fine print on a soggy clipboard you signed on the beach. As TripAdvisor's St Maarten forum warns, unlicensed beach activity operators prey on cruise passengers at popular beaches, quoting low initial prices then layering on fees.
Red Flags
- The price quoted verbally on the beach is much lower than what appears on the final receipt
- The operator has no visible business license, branded equipment, or permanent location
- You're asked to sign a waiver on the beach without time to read the terms
- Additional fees for fuel, insurance, or equipment are only mentioned after the activity
- The equipment looks poorly maintained or doesn't match what was advertised
How to Avoid
- Book water sports through established operators with physical offices and online reviews
- Ask for the total all-inclusive price in writing before starting any activity
- Never sign anything on the beach without reading every line, including fine print about extra fees
- Book excursions through your cruise line or hotel for vetted, insured operators
- Check TripAdvisor reviews for the specific operator by name before handing over money
You're browsing the duty-free jewelry shops on Front Street when a salesperson offers you a glass ...
You're browsing the duty-free jewelry shops on Front Street when a salesperson offers you a glass of champagne and seats you in front of a dazzling display of loose diamonds and tanzanite. They claim the stones are 'investment grade' and offer cruise-passenger-only pricing that's '70 percent below retail.' The pressure to buy is intense. What they don't mention is that the appraisal certificate accompanying your purchase may come from an in-house appraiser, not an independent GIA or AGS lab, and the retail comparison is inflated. Cruise forum threads regularly discuss travelers overpaying for stones that appraise at a fraction of the purchase price back home.
Red Flags
- The shop offers champagne, VIP treatment, and dramatic 'cruise-only' discounts
- The appraisal or certification comes from the store itself rather than GIA or AGS
- The salesperson compares prices to inflated 'retail' values you can't verify on the spot
- They pressure you to decide before the ship departs, creating artificial urgency
- The shop is positioned right at the cruise port entrance to catch arriving passengers first
How to Avoid
- Never make large jewelry purchases under time pressure from a cruise port shop
- Only trust certifications from independent gemological labs like GIA, AGS, or IGI
- Research the specific stone type and size on Blue Nile or James Allen before buying to know fair market price
- Ask if the shop offers a return policy -- legitimate dealers will give you 30 days to have it independently appraised
- If interested, take the shop's card and buy online later after comparison shopping
🆘 What to Do If You Get Scammed
📋 File a Police Report
Go to the nearest Metropolitan Police station. Call 999 (emergency) or 101 (non-emergency). Get an official crime report — you'll need this for insurance claims. You can also report online at met.police.uk.
💳 Cancel Your Cards
Call your bank immediately. Most have 24/7 numbers on the back of the card (keep a photo saved separately). Block any suspicious transactions before the thieves use your details.
🛂 Lost Passport?
Contact your nearest embassy or consulate. The US Embassy is at 33 Nine Elms Lane, London SW11 7US. For emergencies: +44 20 7499 9000.
📱 Track Your Device
If your phone was stolen, use Find My (iPhone) or Find My Device (Android) from another device. Don't confront thieves yourself — share the location with police instead.
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