A Florida couple has been arrested for defrauding people of more than $200,000.
To scam people, they made fake Royal Cruise bookings and luxury watches that were never delivered.
The scammers are Antonio Díaz, 65 years old, and María Blasco Díaz, 64 years old. The couple was arrested on April 7 and now faces felony charges.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office reported that the couple collected about $200,259.85 in three years by scamming people.
The couple often scammed people by claiming they could get special discounts through a friend who worked for Royal Caribbean. They also used to attract 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.
However, to date, it has never received any updates. In response to her repeated requests, Blasco Díaz made several excuses and finally stated that her friend had been fired.
Upon direct contact with Royal Caribbean, they established that although the reservation was valid, it was not for her or any of her family members. Payments made by the couple for partial reimbursement failed due to lack of sufficient funds.
The couple is said to have received nearly $139,000 as deposits for 16 Rolex watches and a Patek Philippe watch, due to an alleged 50 percent discount due to Antonio Díaz working in a jewelry store.
Blasco initially confessed to the crime and stated that her husband “had nothing to do with it.”
For now, the couple has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, they could face up to 30 years in prison.
How to avoid scams on Royal Caribbean reservations?
Officials have asked users to confirm the reservation number immediately on the Royal Caribbean 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.
