News Update — November 2025 

🇯🇲 Scam Alerts for Jamaica Relief

How to spot and avoid scam sites

• Watch for high-pressure tactics:Legitimate charities will not pressure you to donate immediately. Be cautious of urgent appeals, especially via unsolicited emails, texts, or social media posts.

• Verify charity legitimacy:

  • Research the organization using reputable charity evaluators like the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, or GuideStar.

  • Use the IRS's Tax Exempt Organization Search Tool to confirm if an organization is a registered charity.

• Use official websites:

  • Do not click on links in unsolicited emails or social media posts.

  • Instead, type the charity's official website address directly into your browser to ensure you are not being redirected to a fake site.

• Be wary of payment requests:

  • Legitimate charities accept standard payment methods like credit cards or checks. Be suspicious of any organization asking for payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.

  • For checks, make them payable to the organization, not an individual.

• Recognize fake government aid:

  • Government agencies like FEMA do not charge fees for disaster assistance or ask for payment information to receive aid. If someone claiming to be a federal official asks for money, they are an imposter.

• Report suspicious activity:

  • If you encounter a suspicious site, do not interact with it and report it to authorities like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

  • You can also report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). 

It is important to be vigilant for scam sites following a natural disaster. Scammers often create fake websites with names similar to legitimate charities or government agencies. There is no single master list of all fake websites as they appear and disappear quickly, but the warning signs are consistent. 

Known Fraudulent Domains 

Following Hurricane Melissa (2025), the Government of Jamaica and the Jamaica Cyber Incident Response Team (JaCIRT) identified the following domains as fraudulent. The only legitimate government website for donations was supportjamaica.gov.jm. 

Do NOT use these domains:

• jamaicahurricanehelp.net

• jamaicahurricanehelp.org

• jamaica-hurricane-help.com

• melissareliefjamaica.net

• melissareliefjamaica.com

• melissareliefjamaica.org

• supportjamaicagovjm.com

• supportjamaicagovjm.net 

How to Spot a Charity Scam

Authorities like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the FBI recommend looking for these red flags: 

• Similar Names/URLs: Scammers use names that sound a lot like those of respected, legitimate charities (e.g., "redcrosss.org" instead of "redcross.org").

• High-Pressure Tactics: You are pressured to donate immediately without time to research.

• Requests for Untraceable Payments:You are asked to donate via cash, gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Legitimate charities accept checks or credit cards.

• Unsolicited Messages with Links: Be wary of unexpected emails, texts, or social media messages with links. Instead, type the official website address directly into your browser.

• Vague Information: The organization provides general "heart-wrenching" stories but no specifics on how your donation will be used or its tax-exempt ID.

• No Tax-Deductible Information:Donations to individuals or unverified crowdfunding campaigns are not tax-deductible. 

How to Verify a Charity

Before donating, verify the organization's legitimacy using independent watchdog sites: 

• BBB Wise Giving Alliance: Give.org

• Charity Navigator: CharityNavigator.org

• Charity Watch: CharityWatch.org

• GuideStar by Candid: GuideStar.org

• IRS Tax-Exempt Organization Search Tool: To confirm 501(c)(3) status apps.irs.gov/app/eos/ 

Legitimate Organizations

You can confidently donate to well-known organizations with a proven track record in disaster relief, such as: 

• American Red Cross

• The Salvation Army

• Samaritan's Purse

• World Central Kitchen

• Direct Relief

• Convoy of Hope

If you suspect a scam, report it to the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF), the FBI at ic3.gov, or the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov.