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Jamaica
29 scams
One of the most beautiful in the Caribbean, Jamaica offers stunning beaches, exotic fauna and flora, unique cuisine, culture and music all amalgamating into one captivating experience.
Although violent crime is high, tourists are generally not targeted. However, one has to be careful of the tourist targeted scams here.
Note: vast majority of trips are trouble free and there is no need to be paranoid. That said, it always pays to be aware, careful, and prepared.
Emergency numbers
- Ambulance, fire: 110
- Police: 119
Travel resources
Aloe Vera scam in Jamaica
7 0How it works: Opening: someone beckons you to see an aloe vera plant. You come over, she breaks a piece of it, shows the gel coming out of it and…
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Hip Street bracelet scam in Jamaica
7 0How it works: At Hip Street, you may encounter touts who try to tie a bracelet around your wrist, then ask for payment. Places to beware: Montego Bay: Hip Street…
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Hair braiding scam in Jamaica
6 0How it works: At markets, you may encounter touts offering hair braiding services. A fee is agreed on initially. At the end however, double the payment will be demanded, due…
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CD photo scam in Jamaica
6 0How it works: At tourist attractions or parks, photographers will snap photos of you and offer a CD of these photos at inflated prices. Some have reported receiving blank CDs…
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Familiar face scam in Jamaica
6 0How it works: Situation: for tourists staying at resorts, they usually carry a wrist band from their resort. Opening: scammers are able to identify which resort the band belongs to…
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Unofficial guides in Jamaica
6 0How it works: Version 1: A local claims that the place you are going is closed and then offers to bring you to places which they claim you cannot find…
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Rent-a-Rasta/Rent-a-Dreds in Jamaica
6 0How it works: Situation: there are women who come for casual relationships in exchange for cash and gifts with guys known as “renta dreds” or “renta-rasta”. Set-up: as such, a…
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Negril Lighthouse entrance fee scam in Jamaica
5 0How it works: Version 1: there are scammers here posing as staff of the lighthouse asking for a donation for walking the grounds. Version 2: aloe vera scam. Places to…
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Name engraving souvenir scam in Jamaica
4 0How it works: A stall vendor offers you a free souvenir and then asks for your name. If you reveal it, he will carve it on the souvenir and then…
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Illegal Ganja in Jamaica
3 0How it works: Situation: the use of drugs (e.g. marijuana – ganja) here is well-known, yet they are illegal – two ounces or more lead to arrest, two ounces or…
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Taxi scams in Jamaica
3 0How it works: Situation: taxis here do not cheat by the standard ways (e.g. rigged meters, longhauling). Version 1: claiming that they have to stay with you to bring you…
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Blue Lagoon boat ride scams in Jamaica
3 0How it works: Situation: at the Blue Lagoon, you can take a boat ride to Monkey Island and the mineral springs. Version 1: quoting you an inflated price at the…
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Corrupt traffic police in Jamaica
3 0How it works: Opening: to and from the airport to town, you may be stopped by corrupt traffic police officers for a traffic offence you may or may not have…
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Timeshare scam in Jamaica
3 0How it works: Opening: at your resort, you may be enticed to attend a 90 minutes timeshare presentation with an offer to stay for free at any of the company’s…
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Lottery call scams in Jamaica
2 0How it works: Situation: this is one extremely notorious scam that targets US citizens. However, it can happen to anyone during or after your stay in Jamaica. Opening: scammers posing…
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