Power of attorney documents that grant one person authority to act on another’s behalf in property transactions are being forged, misused, and obtained by deception across Jamaica, enabling fraudsters to sell or mortgage properties without the true owner’s knowledge or consent.

Fraudsters are fabricating wills and grant of probate documents in order to claim ownership of Jamaican family land after the death of a landowner. Lawyers and the courts have flagged this as a growing threat to legitimate heirs across all parishes.

Dual-sale fraud — in which the same property is sold to two separate buyers simultaneously — is a recurring problem in Jamaica’s property market. The first buyer to register their title with the NLA typically prevails, leaving the other with a civil claim and little prospect of full recovery.

The National Housing Trust has warned the public that persons are fabricating employment records and NHT contribution histories to fraudulently qualify for housing benefits, mortgage loans, and government-subsidised units intended for legitimate contributors.

Apartment owners in Jamaica’s growing strata developments are reporting the embezzlement of maintenance funds by strata corporation officers, leaving buildings without security, repairs, or insurance coverage while fees continue to be collected from unit owners.

Data from the Real Estate Board of Jamaica reveals at least 157 housing projects remain unfinished, many past their original completion dates. The REB has initiated legal proceedings against at least one developer as part of a broader crackdown under the Real Estate (Dealers and Developers) Act.

Informal rent-to-own agreements for property in Jamaica frequently contain terms that allow the seller to terminate the arrangement and retain all payments made, leaving buyers with no equity, no title, and no legal protection after years of paying above-market rents.

Fraudsters stole licensed realtors’ “For Sale” signs from St Andrew, professionally altered the contact details, and re-planted them on different properties in Portland to redirect buyers to fake sellers. The Realtors Association of Jamaica has issued an urgent public warning.

Land banking schemes targeting Jamaican buyers — particularly in the diaspora — are selling parcels that are legally undevelopable, lack access roads, sit within protected zones, or are already subject to competing claims, while marketing them as secure long-term investments.

Kingston, Jamaica — 8 March 2026 As Jamaica’s property market continues to grow, a quieter threat is gaining attention across global real…