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Jamaica (JM)

Reggae rhythms, stunning beaches, and a vibrant English-speaking culture make Jamaica the Caribbean's most iconic destination.

Capital: Kingston
Region: Americas
Language: English
Currency: JMD (J$)
Cost of living: Affordable (index 45)
Emergency: 119
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Scam Warnings

Common scams targeting expats in Jamaica.

Jamaica has a well-documented history of fraud schemes. The Jamaican lottery scam (lotto scam) is globally known and continues to operate primarily from the Montego Bay area, targeting elderly Americans and Canadians. Locally, expats face risks from fake rental listings, investment fraud, contractor scams, counterfeit currency, and tourist-area overcharging. The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC), Financial Services Commission (FSC), and Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Fraud Squad actively investigate reported scams. Three golden rules: never send money or gift cards in response to a prize claim — you cannot win a lottery you did not enter; never pay a rental deposit before viewing the property in person; and verify all investment companies with the FSC at fscjamaica.org before investing. Emergency: 119 (Jamaica Constabulary Force).

Jamaican Lottery and Advance-Fee Scam (Lotto Scam)

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Jamaica is the source of one of the world's most persistent telemarketing fraud operations, centred primarily in the Montego Bay area. Victims outside Jamaica — primarily elderly Americans and Canadians — receive unsolicited calls claiming they have won a prize (lottery, sweepstakes, vehicle, or cash) and must pay taxes, customs fees, or a legal clearance fee to claim it. The US Department of Justice and US Federal Trade Commission (FTC Project JOLT) have prosecuted multiple Jamaican nationals for this fraud. Jamaican authorities, including the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA), continue to investigate and arrest perpetrators. This scam primarily targets people outside Jamaica, but expats should be aware and warn elderly family members.

How to spot it
  • - Unsolicited phone call claiming you have won a prize you never entered
  • - Caller insists you must pay a fee, tax, or deposit to claim winnings — legitimate lotteries never do this
  • - Urgency and secrecy: "you must claim within 24 hours" or "do not tell family until you receive the prize"
  • - Requests for payment by wire transfer, gift cards (Google Play, iTunes, Amazon), cryptocurrency, or MoneyGram/Western Union
  • - Caller becomes threatening or aggressive if you question or hesitate
  • - Caller may claim to be from a well-known organisation (Publisher's Clearing House, Jamaican National Lottery)
What to do: Hang up immediately. Report to the JCF Financial Crimes Unit at 876-920-1212. Warn elderly relatives — this scam specifically targets older people. In the US, report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI IC3 at ic3.gov. In Canada, report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.

Fake Rental Listing

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Fraudulent property listings appear on social media, WhatsApp, and online classified sites. The "landlord" requests a deposit or first month's rent by bank transfer before any viewing. The property may not exist or belong to someone else. Particularly common before university intake periods, Christmas, and January when rental demand peaks across Kingston, Portmore, and Montego Bay.

How to spot it
  • - Rent is unusually low for the area and quality shown in photos
  • - Landlord or agent insists on a deposit before any in-person or verified video viewing
  • - Communicates only via WhatsApp with no verifiable business identity
  • - Refuses to meet in person or conduct a live video call showing the actual property and street
  • - Payment requested by wire transfer to a personal account or via cryptocurrency
  • - Google reverse-image-search the listing photos — scammers copy images from legitimate listings
What to do: Never transfer a deposit without in-person verification. Use a licensed real estate agent registered with the Real Estate Board of Jamaica (reb.gov.jm). Report fraud to the JCF Fraud Squad at 876-922-2374.

Investment Fraud and Ponzi Schemes

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Jamaica has experienced major investment fraud collapses (Cash Plus 2008, Olint 2008). New schemes continue to emerge, often promising high returns on forex, cryptocurrency, or "exclusive" investment opportunities. The Financial Services Commission (FSC) strengthened its fraud prevention mandate in 2025 after high-profile cases rattled confidence in Jamaica's investment sector. Schemes typically pay initial returns to attract more investors before collapsing.

How to spot it
  • - Guaranteed high annual returns (20 % or more) with low or no stated risk
  • - Investment firm has no FSC licence — verify at fscjamaica.org
  • - Pressure to recruit friends and family for referral bonuses
  • - Investment product description is vague, confusing, or cannot be explained simply
  • - Company is newly registered or cannot be verified on the Companies Office of Jamaica (ocj.gov.jm)
  • - Difficulty or inability to withdraw funds once invested
What to do: Verify all investment companies with the Financial Services Commission at fscjamaica.org before investing any money. Report suspected fraud to the FSC at 876-906-3010 or the JCF Financial Crimes Unit at 876-920-1212.

Taxi Overcharging and Unofficial Drivers

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Unofficial drivers at Norman Manley International Airport (Kingston), Sangster International Airport (Montego Bay), ports, and tourist areas quote highly inflated fares to newly arrived expats and tourists. Some operate without insurance. Licensed route taxis are required to have red licence plates in Jamaica.

How to spot it
  • - Driver approaches you at the airport or port — legitimate licensed taxis wait at designated ranks
  • - No red number plate, which is required for official Jamaican route taxis
  • - Fare quoted is significantly above what other drivers quote for the same journey
  • - Driver cannot or will not agree a fare before departure
  • - Vehicle appears unmarked, damaged, or without visible insurance papers
What to do: Use Uber or InDrive in Kingston and Montego Bay. Use JUTA (Jamaica Union of Travellers Association) or licensed airport taxi services at airports. Always agree the fare in JMD (or USD if preferred) before departure, and confirm the currency explicitly. Report overcharging to the Consumer Affairs Commission at 876-906-5425.

Contractor Scams (Repairs and Construction)

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Expats settling into new properties or dealing with storm damage hire contractors without sufficient due diligence. Large upfront cash payments are taken, work is abandoned or of very poor quality. Unlicensed builders are a significant risk in Jamaica's informal construction sector.

How to spot it
  • - Contractor cannot provide a portfolio, references, or a valid National Contracts Commission (NCC) registration
  • - Demands more than 30–40 % upfront before any work begins
  • - Quote is significantly lower than all others without a clear explanation
  • - Pressure to decide immediately: "this special price is only for today"
  • - No written contract with a detailed scope of work and staged payment schedule
What to do: Get a minimum of three referrals from trusted Jamaicans or established expats. Use written contracts with staged payments tied to completion milestones. Pay no more than 30–40 % upfront. Report unregistered contractors to the Consumer Affairs Commission at 876-906-5425.

Counterfeit Jamaican Dollar Currency

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Counterfeit Jamaican dollar notes — particularly J$1,000 and J$5,000 denominations — circulate in some markets and from informal money changers. US dollar counterfeits are also a risk in tourist areas.

How to spot it
  • - Note feels flimsy or lighter than genuine currency
  • - Security thread is absent or appears printed on the surface rather than embedded
  • - Hologram or watermark is missing or unclear
  • - Serial numbers appear blurred, irregularly spaced, or inconsistent in colour
  • - Note received in poor lighting — markets, nightclubs, or busy street transactions
What to do: Use bank ATMs and licensed cambios for cash. Learn the security features of Jamaican dollar notes — the Bank of Jamaica provides a guide at boj.org.jm. Count change carefully in good lighting. If you receive a suspected counterfeit: do not pass it on. Report to the Bank of Jamaica.

Pickpocketing and Phone Theft in Tourist and Busy Areas

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Kingston craft markets, Ocho Rios and Montego Bay tourist strips, public buses, and busy market areas see regular incidents of phone theft and pickpocketing. Distraction is commonly used. Walking while visibly using a phone near traffic is especially high-risk.

How to spot it
  • - Someone bumps into you or creates a deliberate distraction in a crowd
  • - Strangers offer unsolicited help with your bags or directions
  • - Multiple people approaching you simultaneously in a busy market or tourist area
  • - Motorcyclist slowing near you while you are using your phone
What to do: Keep valuables in front pockets or a money belt. Do not display expensive phones, cameras, or jewellery in public. Use a licensed guide in tourist areas if you are unfamiliar with the location. Leave valuables in a hotel safe. Report theft to the JCF at 119.

Customs and Import Duty Misquoting

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Some informal freight agents underestimate customs duties when quoting, leaving expats with unexpected large bills on arrival. At Customs offices, unofficial "helpers" may approach and offer to clear goods faster for a cash payment — this is a bribe solicitation and not legitimate.

How to spot it
  • - Import agent cannot provide a written duty estimate with specific tariff codes
  • - Person at or near Customs offers to clear your goods faster for a cash payment outside official channels
  • - Duty bill on arrival is significantly higher than the agent quoted, with no clear explanation
What to do: Use only licensed customs brokers registered with the Jamaica Customs Agency (customs.gov.jm). Do not pay cash to unofficial helpers. Request an itemised duty calculation with tariff code references before importing goods.

Romance and Online Relationship Scam

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Dating apps and social media are used to build emotional connections that eventually lead to money requests for emergencies, travel, or business opportunities. Expats already in Jamaica are also targeted. Some romance scam operations are linked to the same networks running lottery fraud in the Montego Bay area.

How to spot it
  • - Person met online becomes intensely romantic very quickly
  • - Professes love or deep connection before any in-person meeting
  • - Financial requests follow — for a medical emergency, travel, or business deal
  • - Story changes or gains new complications each time money is sent
  • - Refuses or continuously postpones a video call
What to do: Never send money to someone you have not met in person. Reverse-image-search their profile photos. Report to the JCF Fraud Squad at 876-922-2374 and to the dating platform.

Reporting

Where to report: Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) — emergency: 119; Fraud Squad: 876-922-2374; website: jcf.gov.jm. JCF Financial Crimes Unit (lottery fraud, advance-fee fraud, money laundering): 876-920-1212. Financial Services Commission — FSC Jamaica (investment and securities fraud): 876-906-3010; website: fscjamaica.org. Consumer Affairs Commission — CAC Jamaica (consumer scams, overcharging, contractor fraud): 876-906-5425 or 1-888-991-4470 (toll-free); website: cac.gov.jm. Bank of Jamaica (counterfeit currency): boj.org.jm. Jamaica Customs Agency (import fraud): customs.gov.jm.

Consumer helpline: Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC): 876-906-5425 or toll-free 1-888-991-4470; website cac.gov.jm (free). Financial Services Commission: 876-906-3010; fscjamaica.org (free). JCF Fraud Squad: 876-922-2374 (free). Emergency: 119.