A Florida couple has been arrested for defrauding people of more than $200,000.
To scam people, they booked fake Royal Cruise reservations and luxury watches that were never delivered.
The scammers are 65-year-old Antonio Diaz and 64-year-old Maria Blasco Diaz. The pair were arrested on April 7 and are now facing felony charges.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office reported that the couple collected about $200,259.85 in three years by defrauding people.
The couple used to scam people by claiming they could secure special discounts through a friend who worked for Royal Caribbean. They also used to entice people by offering exclusive packages, room upgrades, beverage packages and travel insurance for Royal Caribbean.
One of the victims even paid the couple $44,910 for a family reservation on Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas scheduled for July 9, 2023.
But till date she never received any updates. In response to her repeated requests, Blasco Diaz made several excuses, eventually claiming that her friend had been fired.
Upon contacting Royal Caribbean directly, they determined that although the reservation was valid, it was not for her or any of her family members. The payments written by the couple for their partial repayment failed due to lack of sufficient funds.
The couple are said to have received close to $139,000 in deposits for 16 Rolex watches and a Patek Philippe watch due to an alleged 50 percent discount due to Antonio Diaz, who works in a jewelry store.
Blasco initially confessed to the crime, stating that her husband “had nothing to do with it.”
So far, the pair have pleaded not guilty. If convicted, they could face up to 30 years in prison.
How to avoid Royal Caribbean booking fraud?
Officials have asked users to verify the reservation number immediately on Royal Caribbean’s website or app to ensure it exists. Also, never pay in advance and use the phone number directly from the official Royal Caribbean site for authentic contact.
