Travelers heading to Sint Maarten, the Dutch part of the Caribbean Island of Saint Martin, should beware of fraudulent websites impersonating the official entry portal for completing the free Embarkation/Disembarkation (ED) card form. Scam sites are charging up to $139.99 for this service, which is actually free on the official government website. May-Ling Chun, Sint Maarten’s director of tourism, insists travelers verify they are on the official site to avoid unnecessary fees and protect their personal information.
Gabriella Ribeiro from TRU Marketing emphasizes using only the official Government of St. Maarten ED card site, stressing its simplicity and lack of fees. Third-party sites often mislead travelers by appearing at the top of search results as sponsored ads, suggesting undue payments or “assisted” services for expedited processing, which travelers might mistakenly pay for when in a rush.
Travelers are urged to be cautious, as airlines often remind passengers to complete the ED card, creating a sense of urgency that could lead them to click on spurious links without verifying their authenticity. Verifying the legitimacy of the website is crucial to avoid falling prey to scams and unnecessary charges. In 2023, Sint Maarten welcomed 395,053 stay-over visitors and 1,318,177 cruise passengers.