Scammers using fake accounts to fool NHT customers

Members of the public are being urged to exercise caution when engaging with social media accounts claiming to represent the National Housing Trust (NHT), following an increase in fraudulent pages across the digital space.

Speaking during a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank in Kingston on Tuesday, Assistant General Manager for Corporate Communications and Public Affairs at the NHT, Dwayne Berbick, warned that scammers are using fake accounts to advertise housing solutions and benefits that do not exist. He cautioned that many of the fake pages appear convincing because they use the NHT’s branding, copyrighted material, and, in some cases, repurpose content from the Trust’s official social media channels.

“Persons should verify the official NHT social media handles and review the number of followers on an account before engaging. This is because many of the fraudulent pages are newly created and have relatively small followings,” Berbick stated.

He noted, however, that one fraudulent TikTok account has amassed a significant following while promoting unrealistic housing offers, including two-bedroom houses in St James for $3.5 million and container homes for just over $1 million.

He emphasised that the NHT doesn’t sell houses and its products via direct messaging on social media. 

“We have formal channels through which [contributors can] access all benefits,” Berbick pointed out. The public is encouraged to carefully examine social media pages and remain alert for signs such as poor grammar, inconsistent capitalisation, spelling errors, and unusual punctuation – all of which often indicate that an account is fraudulent.

Berbick advised that the NHT is undertaking initiatives to have all of its social media pages formally verified and is reviewing additional measures to help citizens identify legitimate communications from the organisation. He explained that the Trust continues to report fraudulent accounts and has successfully had several removed from various platforms. However, Berbick acknowledged that challenges remain in removing certain fake accounts, particularly on TikTok. 

He encouraged the public to report suspicious pages whenever they encounter them. Persons who are uncertain about the legitimacy of an NHT social media account or communication are encouraged to contact the organisation directly for verification. The NHT can be reached by email at wecare@nht.gov.jm, by telephone at 876-929-6500, or toll-free at 888-CALL-NHT.