Government Warns About Fake Hurricane Donation Websites

Minister Without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister responsible for Science, Technology and Special Projects, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, speaks at a special press briefing on Hurricane Melissa recovery at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) in Kingston on October 30. Photo: Michael Sloley

The Government of Jamaica is cautioning members of the public, both locally and internationally, to be on high alert for fraudulent websites attempting to exploit their generosity in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Science, Technology and Special Projects, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, said the Jamaica Cyber Incident Response Team (JaCIRT) has identified multiple fake websites seeking to divert relief donations.

“In fact, up to last night, we had identified eight such sites, and just now that number has increased to 28. These sites are attempting to redirect contributions and donations away from legitimate sources,” the Minister said during a press briefing on Hurricane Melissa recovery held at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) on October 30.

Dr. Wheatley informed that the fraudulent websites are deliberately designed with names similar to Jamaica’s official donation portal. Some of the domains identified include jamaicahurricanehelp.net, melissareliefjamaica.com, and supportjamaicagovjm.net, among others.

“The key difference is that all official government websites end with gov.jm. These fraudulent sites are at varying stages of development, and JaCIRT suspects they may become active in the coming days,” he pointed out.

The only legitimate government website for Hurricane Melissa relief donations is supportjamaica.gov.jm, developed by the Government of Jamaica.

Minister Wheatley is urging the public to verify any donation website before entering personal or financial information, and to report suspicious sites immediately to JaCIRT at jamaica.cirt@opm.gov.jm.

Donors are also encouraged to type the web address directly into their browser, avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails or social media messages, and ensure the site displays https:// along with a padlock icon.

“Hurricane Melissa has caused significant damage across the island, and the need for legitimate assistance is real and urgent. By staying vigilant against these scams, we can ensure that charitable donations reach the Jamaican people who desperately need support,” the Minister said.

“The Government of Jamaica recognises and deeply appreciates the global outpouring of support during this difficult time. We urge all international donors to exercise caution and use only the official government portal. Your generosity should reach those who need it most, not criminal enterprises,” Dr. Wheatly stressed.

The Jamaica Cyber Incident Response Team continues to actively monitor the digital landscape for additional fraudulent domains and is working closely with international cybersecurity partners and domain registrars to shut down these malicious operations.