Safety tips for buying and selling

Most people on Splash Jamaica are genuine, but scammers target classified sites everywhere. These simple steps keep you safe.

When buying

• See the item, in person, before you pay. Meet in a busy public place in daylight, or at a police station car park, and take someone with you.
• Never pay a deposit, "holding fee", shipping fee or customs charge to someone you have not met. Never pay with gift cards, money transfer or crypto.
• For vehicles, check the title, registration and fitness, and that the seller's name matches. Check that the chassis number matches the papers.
• For rentals, view the property and check that the person is the owner or a licensed agent before paying anything. Ask for the Real Estate Board licence number.
• If a price is far below what everyone else is asking, be very careful.

When selling

• Watch for fake payment confirmations and cheques for more than the price – wait until money has really arrived in your account.
• Do not share one-time passcodes, banking PINs or ID documents with buyers.

Jobs, visas and loans

• Genuine employers do not charge you to apply. Offers of overseas jobs, visas or loans that ask for a fee up front are almost always scams.

If something goes wrong

Use the "Report this ad" link on the ad, and report crimes to the police (119). Official public notices and scam warnings are listed in our public notices.