Ben's Cabin on Madeline Island Scam

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Author: M Rivas

Ben's Cabin on Madeline Island AKA Madeline Island Lodging owners Ben Ryder and Jim Ryder scammed my wife and I on our honeymoon and will not give us our money back.
We're not the only ones they have done this to. The police informed me, as I was filing a police report, there were 4 others they know about and another incident that occurred after us to a couple driving from North Dakota.
Here are the details of the story:
I found the Ben's Cabin website through the Madeline Island Chamber of Commerce site.
We prepaid $525 to stay at Ben's Cabin, but when I tried to make contact the week prior to check in, Ben would not answer his phone or return any messages or texts. Some of the time his phone was off. We called both numbers that exist on his website (www.benryder.us).
Although we couldn't get a hold of Ben, we drove to Madeline Island from Duluth any way and asked around for Ben Ryder. People knew who he was and also that he and his father (Jim Ryder) had been done this several times in the past few months. Why was his website listed on the Madeline Island Chamber of Commerce website is beyond me.
My wife and I had to fork out another $695 to stay in a different cabin.
I drove to the cabin and found another couple staying there and it turns out they checked in the afternoon we were supposed to check in.
The couple informed me they had just met Ben the day the checked in. Ben told them the cabin was vacant and he would let them stay there for half price.
The couple also mentioned that Ben's dad, Jim Ryder had been out working on the other unfinished cabin. I returned later to find his dad. He promised to drop off a check as collateral until Ben could pay me, claiming this was Ben's business and he works for Ben. I shouldn't have been surprised then to receive a bad check from Jim. I should've asked for the nice table saw or the freshly purchased wood in the cabin being built.
Basically they are double booking Ben's Cabin and taking money to buy supplies for the far from finished cabin.
As mentioned above, a police report has been filed and the case is headed to the District Attorney. Ben Ryder and his father Jim Ryder still will not return calls, texts or emails (with the exception of one email Ben said that he will send me a check once his account has sufficient funds. To which I requested a money order).
Buyer beware - DO NOT give these people your money.

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