East Providence Police arrest city man for vacation fraud scheme

DeBarros is alleged to have falsely set up Aruba get-away

Posted 10/15/19

EAST PROVIDENCE — A city man has been detained for his role in a scheme to defraud vacationers.

The East Providence Police Department arrested Anthony DeBarros, 57 and of Seth Street in East …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


East Providence Police arrest city man for vacation fraud scheme

DeBarros is alleged to have falsely set up Aruba get-away

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — A city man has been detained for his role in a scheme to defraud vacationers.

The East Providence Police Department arrested Anthony DeBarros, 57 and of Seth Street in East Providence, on charges of Obtaining Money under False Pretenses and Unlawful Appropriation.

Mr. DeBarros is accused of falsely arranging a vacation to Aruba for 58 people, with each person paying him $1,000 for the trip. Upon investigation, as the date of the trip neared no one received an itinerary from Mr. DeBarros and when they tried to contact he either did not return calls or provided them with false information.

Several victims of the scheme reported to the East Providence Police that they may have been scammed and an investigation was opened by the Detective Division. As a result of the inquiry, it was determined that the vacation the victims paid for and expected to go on was, in fact, a scam. The vacation had never been booked and Mr. DeBarros never planned on actually booking any trip. Mr. DeBarros informed detectives that he used the money to pay bills and make purchases for his own good.

Pursuant to an arrest warrant, Mr. DeBarrros was arrested on Saturday, Oct. 12. The investigation is ongoing as there are many more victims still filing complaints. Additional charges may be pending.

If anyone believes they are a victim of a possible scam by Mr. DeBarros, they are urged to contact the East Providence Police Department’s Detective Division at 401-435-7600 or their local police department.

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.