Holiday nightmare: 14 stranded in Tobago after fake villa scam

Holiday nightmare: 14 stranded in Tobago after fake villa scam

Fourteen visitors from Trinidad were left stranded and out of pocket after falling victim to a fraudulent villa booking scheme during the Eid long weekend in Tobago.

The group had planned a holiday getaway and believed they had secured accommodation at a property advertised as “Tobago Haven Villas.” However, upon arrival, they discovered that the villa did not exist, and all attempts to contact the supposed host were unsuccessful.

Reports indicate the victims collectively paid thousands of dollars in advance for the booking. The scam involved listings that appeared legitimate, featuring attractive photos and detailed location descriptions.

Further checks later revealed that the images used in the advertisements had been stolen from other real properties across the region. The same listings were also linked to names such as “Luxury Villas Tobago” and “Shirvan Road Villas,” raising further concerns about a coordinated scheme.

One victim said the property was first advertised on TikTok and appeared convincing enough to warrant a deposit. Another noted that the same images were seen on Airbnb, adding to the illusion that the listing was genuine.

After payments were made to a local bank account, efforts to recover the funds proved futile. In at least one instance, a victim was informed that the account had already been emptied, making reimbursement impossible.

The matter has since been reported to the police, and victims have been advised to file official complaints with the Fraud Squad.

Authorities are urging the public to exercise caution when booking accommodations online, particularly during peak holiday periods, warning that similar scams have been reported in the past.

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