USVI-On-Line

Hello,
If you booked your villa through VRBO last fall I would make a phone call to your villa manager/owner. I found out yesterday that the villa that we booked for March was double booked. Someone hacked into the owner's webmail and pretended to be him and in the process took $5000 of our money. Now we are without a villa for a our week in STJ,and out $5000. I am so sick about this that I could just cry. . . ok, I did that last night! We are looking for a last minute villa from 3/10-3/17 for 6 adults and 1 child

That is just awful.

I heard about those scams.

So the owner had no idea until now that someone was posing as them and collecting rent checks? Many people might suffering the same fate.

Maybe you should post the name of the villa so other people are aware of it and don't send checks until they know for sure it is going to the right place.

Oh My!!! So sorry for the stress and tears this has caused!! I would be devastated.... There must be something that can be done????

Devastated is a good way to describe it! If it were just my husband and I it would be bad, however, we are traveling with two other couples. Having to make those phone calls that we've been scammed, and have no place to stay in less than 3 weeks was horrible.

So far we have 2 places with availability- Anole and Villa Equinox. Does anyone have any advice on either, or both?

Thank you so much! This board had me so excited for vacation. . .hopefully this will just be a bump in the road for us!

Seems to me VRBO would have some responsibility here. I'm sure you've approached them concerning a refund etc. and have obviously been denied but I wouldn't just assume you're out $5000. If you went on their legetimate website and booked, I would think that would give you some leverage. After all it has to be their responsibility to keep their website free of virus, hackers, etc. I know your trip is at hand and may not be resolved before you leave, but don't let it go so fast. They should carry some type insurance that would cover them. They have the upper hand in denying you a refund or other accomadations since you are for all practical concerns, are out country, but some pressure from them might bring them around. A simple letter from an attorney might get their attention. Sorry for all this, I know it's a big downer right before a trip I'm sure you've looked forward for quite a while

There are a bunch of places on special here,

http://www.caribbeanvilla.com/specials/ ... -specials/

I'm so sorry to hear this, I know it must be devastating.
Found this one thru Carefree Getaways who are a very reputable, on island company. We have rented with them several times. Don't know anything about the villa except it's available.
http://carefreegetaways.com/home.php/65/Plumeria

really hope you are able to find a place

Thank you all so much! I love this forum for so many reasons. . .today it is showing me that there are so many good people out there willing to listen and give advice

At this point in time I do not want to name the villa, but will say it's in Reef Bay for anyone that may have a reservation in that area coming up.

We are working with VRBO. . .another frustrating process. However, we are hopeful to find something just as nice as the first villa and have a wonderful vacation

As for the scammer that took our $5000. . .karma is a $%#@!

I hope you are able to get your money back! I thought VRBO had a guarantee? I could be wrong, it has been a while since I have rented from them.

We stayed near Anole a couple of years ago. Just be aware that the road to the villa is pretty rough. It's dirt, rocky, and very bumpy. I came back from that trip with a lot of bruises from being slammed into the side of the jeep.

Check this site as well fror last minute specials:

http://www.cateredto.com/specials/

They rep some very nice properties and are located on island. I've used them three or four times, all good experiences.

Also, consider contacting Lisa Durgin at Vacation Vistas:

http://www.vacationvistas.com/

Lisa lives on island and may be aware of something that's open. I've rented from her on four occasions, all great houses.


Good luck!

This is just terrible. I would be so heartbroken.

I checked on vrbo and it looks like they have their own little insurance to protect your rental.

vrbo has a good reputation and I'm sure many people have rented with no problems at all. We always rent from them and we haven't had a problem either.

This will work out ok?

Since many VRBO owners don't take credit cards, I use the checks that my credit card company sends me to pay for the villa instead of a personal check. Not only do I get the bonus airmiles for using my card, but if I ever needed them I would have their Fraud Department (hopefully) helping me out.

Isn't this fraud or something that the FBI can follow?

Oh no. I just posted on the St. Thomas forum for a friend of mine. She booked a place via VRBO (50793) and her check was cashed last week. She has heard nothing from the owner since then, not returning emails or calls and the calendar has not been updated.

I hope he is just "busy".

As a property owner who rents via VRBO, this sucks. I do my best to reply to people in a timely manner, answer all their questions, email as soon as I receive the check and follow-up. I need to look into this a bit more.

I have rented through VRBO numerous times and have always worried about something like this happening. Yikes, I feel so bad for you. How did you figure out that you'd been scammed?

If we rent through VRBO I always check other property rental websites right after the booking to ensure that our exact dates show up as being rented.

Where did you send the check? Was it to a name and someone's address? A PO box would send up a red flag for me.

I sure hope you get your money back.

So sorry for what you are going thru! Destinationstjohn.com is a good site and I know they have last minute specials. Our group will be on-island around the same time and hope to run into you and your friends!