PHILIPSBURG:--- In the last four months of 2019, the Police Fraud department, as well as the General Criminal Investigation Department, has received numerous reports regarding fraud. Based on the reports many citizens hire persons or contractor to carry out construction work. After receiving a part of the budgeted amount for the construction, these persons or contractor no longer appear to do the work or complete the work he is supposed to. In most cases, they are foreigners and use bogus companies that are not registered on Sint-Maarten.
After the hurricane in 2017, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (COCI) posted a message that citizens should be vigilant and cautious with whom they are doing business and that they should investigate before hiring any persons or companies. These persons should request copies of a valid business license and a current COCI registration to verify that the company is legally established on Sint Maarten.
Most of these companies involved in this criminal act are not registered at the Sint Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry and not licensed to do business on Sint Maarten. Many of these companies may also advertise vacancies to hire local workers, so those seeking employment are also urged to be very cautious.
KPSM Press Release
