Other Tourist Scams in Sint Maarten / St. Martin, Sint Maarten / St. Martin
Timeshares, fake police, charity fraud, and miscellaneous scams targeting visitors. Below are the other scams scams reported in Sint Maarten / St. Martin — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Willemstad, San José, and Havana.
Last updated: April 2, 2026
2
Other Scams Scams
10
Total in Sint Maarten / St. Martin
How it works
Rental operators in both Philipsburg and Marigot have a documented pattern of claiming damage on returned scooters and ATVs. Road conditions on St. Maarten are rough due to lingering hurricane damage (Irma, 2017), making minor cosmetic damage almost inevitable and easily exploitable.
How it works
Operators offering jet ski, paddleboard, or parasailing rentals on Orient Beach — particularly on the French side — sometimes pre-stage minor existing damage on equipment before renting to tourists. When the tourist returns the equipment in the same condition it was rented, the operator claims fresh damage and demands on-the-spot cash payment, sometimes producing a confederate who poses as a "damage assessor." Amounts demanded range from $100 to over $500, and operators may become intimidating if the tourist resists.
See all scams in Sint Maarten / St. Martin
10 total warnings across all categories