Returning Residents Guide - A Complete Safety & Security Guide to Coming Home to Jamaica

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3. Banking & Digital Scams
   
   
   • ATM card skimming.
   
   
   • Fraudulent investment schemes promising huge returns.
   
   
   • Emails or WhatsApp messages pretending to be from your bank.
   
   
   
   


4. Relationship & Trust Scams
   
   
   • “Romance scams” where people feign affection to extract money.
   
   
   • Fake charity drives.
   
   
   • Exploitation of returning residents who are seen as wealthy “foreigners.”
   
   
   
   


5. Everyday Hustles
   
   
   • Taxi drivers overcharging.
   
   
   • Street vendors with inflated “foreigner prices.”
   
   
   • Contractors quoting low, taking deposits, then disappearing.
   
   
   
   

 Key Insight: Scams thrive in moments of excitement, pressure, or confusion. The best defence is
never to rush decisions.

Section 2 – Why Returning Residents Are Targeted

Scammers view returnees as:

• Cash-Rich – arriving with pensions, lump sums, or remittances.


• Naïve – not fully aware of how Jamaica has changed.


• Trusting – reconnecting with old friends, family, or acquaintances who may exploit that trust.

It is vital to accept this reality without becoming paranoid. Awareness builds resilience.

Section 3 – The Golden Rules of Scam Avoidance

1. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.


2. Never pay upfront without receipts, contracts, or verification.


3. Verify identities, titles, and businesses through official channels.


4. Trust your instincts. If you feel uneasy, step back.


5. Build a circle of trusted advisors — lawyer, realtor, banker, doctor.