Virgin Islands officials urged extra vigilance Thursday against misinformation and online scams as phony gambling advertisements, fraudulent parking ticket websites, and suspect news alerts washed over the territory.
The Virgin Islands Casino Control Commission warned Thursday of a fake social media advertisement falsely claiming online gambling was available through St. Croix’s Divi Carina Bay Casino.
The advertisement unlawfully uses Divi Casino’s logos and the official seal of the government of the Virgin Islands, said Marvin L. Pickering, the commission’s chair and CEO.
Don’t click the link, Pickering advised in a news release, and if you have, don’t upload any personal or financial information.
“This advertisement is completely false,” he said. “The commission has not issued any licenses for online gambling operations in the territory.”
He said the commission has been inundated with calls from concerned residents regarding the Facebook advertisement that falsely promotes an “exclusive $1,500 welcome bonus,” claiming it is valid until Sept. 25 to mark the so-called “official launch” of online gambling at Divi Casino.
The fake gambling alert came as the Virgin Islands Education Department warned of a false announcement that all the territory’s schools were closed because of a power outage and heavy flooding. The department’s email to stakeholders emphasized the concern in all caps: “PLEASE ONLY LISTEN TO OFFICIAL VIDE ANNOUNCEMENTS.”
“When dealing with unpredictable matters such as changing weather conditions, electrical service interruptions, or even false threats against schools, VIDE makes decisions in consultation with its official partners, including the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency, the Virgin Islands Police Department, and Government House, among other entities. This process requires ensuring that accurate information is received first before it can be distributed. We recognize that immediate information is desired. Timely information is also a priority for VIDE. As decisions are made, the information is shared with the public,” Education officials wrote in an email issued later. “Because these situations are fluid, unpredictable, and ever-changing, decisions may be adjusted as new information becomes available. For example, a decision to keep schools open may later be revised if conditions worsen, if electrical service is interrupted for an extended period, if on-campus assessments reveal safety concerns, or if a decision is made by the Executive Branch of government.”
Confusingly, less than an hour after Education officials warned, “This is a falsified announcement,” Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. declared all the territory’s schools closed because of inclement weather.
Last week, Virgin Islands District Court officials warned against a website impersonating an online way to pay petty violations ticketed on federal property.
Such tickets can be paid through the official Central Violations Bureau website, www.cvb.uscourts.gov. Court officials said there hadn’t been any reports of Virgin Islanders being targeted by the scam but urged would-be site users to double-check the web address before entering personal or financial information.
Watchdogs across the United States and around the world continue to warn against digital romance scams operated by criminal syndicates posing as friendly admirers. The so-called “pig-butchering” campaigns start as seemingly wayward text messages and end when the victim’s savings are drained. After gaining the victim’s trust through weeks or months of messages, the scammer asks for a loan to assist with a fictional problem.
The U.S. Department of Financial Protection and Innovation warned scammers use text messages, social media, and dating apps, but can also switch between platforms to further engage their victim.
“These messages may seem harmless, but they are designed to build ongoing communication. Scammers may spend weeks, or even months, in casual conversation before introducing the scam. They may show off a lavish lifestyle to appear successful, which often leads to conversations about investing,” federal officials warned. “Once the scammer has the victim’s trust, they will propose an investment opportunity related to crypto assets. They may offer to train the victim on how to set up an account on an exchange to purchase crypto assets. Then, guide them to convert their cash into crypto through a publicly known exchange, ATM, or digital wallet service and transfer it to a fraudulent platform. These crypto services are generally not in on the scam. They are just channels used by scammers to carry out their schemes.”
