No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsCrimeScammers are offering Costa Ricans 'cheap tours of Florida,' Economy Ministry says...

Scammers are offering Costa Ricans ‘cheap tours of Florida,’ Economy Ministry says

The Economy Ministry (MEIC) warned Friday of a telephone scam where an allegedly fraudulent travel agency is offering Costa Ricans a discounted trip to Florida.

A telemarketing company identified as “Millennium International” has been making phone calls in recent days to pitch the vacation, according to MEIC. The promotion consists of a round trip to Florida with tour stops in Miami and Orlando and a cruise in the Caribbean. Operators explain that the the trip would cost between $1,000 and $2,000 for four people. Then they ask the person for their credit card info, and proceed to charge the victim before disappearing.

MEIC’s Consumer Support Director Cynthia Zapata Calvo confirmed the company is not registered to do business in the country and that “according to information they obtained from different sources the alleged promotion is indeed a scam.”

Zapata asked people to abstain from giving any personal or financial information to unknown companies. Many of these scammers are located abroad, making it difficult for Costa Rican authorities to go after the culprits.

Last year MEIC filed 17 complaints with the Prosecutor’s Office against companies that promoted fake tourism promotions, MEIC reported.

UPDATE: On Millenium International’s Facebook page, a post attributed to the company’s CEO is claiming that his company is also being scammed. He asserts an ex-sales director took the company’s database and is behind the racket.

Popular Articles

Tourist Denied Exit at Costa Rica Airport Over Yellow Fever Vaccine Rule

A Peruvian tourist in transit was barred from leaving Juan Santamaría International Airport upon arriving in Costa Rica because he lacked a yellow fever...

Trial Date Set for Murder of Dutch Journalists During El Salvador War

The final phase of the trial against a former Defense Minister of El Salvador and two colonels for their alleged responsibility in the murder...

Domestic Violence Surges in Costa Rica Amid Deepening Social Crisis

Costa Rica’s image as a peaceful haven is cracking—not just on the streets, where homicides are spiking, but inside homes, where domestic violence has...
L. Arias
L. Arias
Reporter | The Tico Times |
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait

Latest Articles