For Immediate Release
Source: United States Virgin Islands Department of Tourism
Contacts:
Alani Henneman-Todman, U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism +1 340 774-8784
ahenneman@usvitourism.vi
Bevan Springer, Marketplace Excellence +1 201 861- 2056
bevan@marketplaceexcellence.com
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM URGES COMMUNITY NOT TO ENGAGE WITH FAKE FACEBOOK PAGES
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS (May 25, 2020) – The United States Virgin Islands Department of Tourism is urging the Virgin Islands community not to engage with fake social media pages purporting to represent the Territory’s tourism authorities.
The tourism department has disclosed that complaints about a particular fake page that is spreading misinformation have been elevated to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS has confirmed that it sent an abuse notification to Facebook.
Previous efforts utilizing Facebook’s website tool to request removal of fake pages were not successful, and there was no response to the Department’s request to Facebook’s legal team.
Commissioner of Tourism Joseph Boschulte cautioned the public not to interact with the malicious page as it poses a safety concern and is demeaning to the Territory.
The Department of Tourism is working with the Bureau of Information Technology (BIT) and with DHS for an immediate resolution. Cybercrime is a federal offense that is punishable by law.
The Department of Tourism’s official Facebook page is located at www.facebook.com/VisitUSVI . The correct social media handles are @visitusvi (Instagram) and @usvitourism (Twitter).
Any concerns or inquiries should be addressed to: Alani Henneman-Todman, Assistant Commissioner – Marketing, at +1 340 774-8784 or ahenneman@usvitourism.vi.
About the U.S. Virgin Islands
For more information about the United States Virgin Islands, go to VisitUSVI.com, follow us on Instagram ( @visitusvi) and become a fan on Facebook ( www.facebook.com/VisitUSVI). When traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. citizens enjoy all the conveniences of domestic travel – including on-line check-in – making travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands easier than ever. As a United States Territory, travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands does not require a passport from U.S. citizens arriving from Puerto Rico or the U.S. mainland. Entry requirements for non-U.S. citizens are the same as for entering the United States from any foreign destination. Upon departure, a passport is required for all but U.S. citizens.
ENDS
