Woman conned out of relief items

A 48-year-old rural St Andrew is warning Jamaicans to be on high alert after she says a man tricked her into giving away bags of items under the guise of collecting 'hurricane relief' supplies.

Mary*, a mother of four and a caretaker who works in various parts of the parish, said she was at home recently when the man approached her gate. She said he claimed he was making rounds in the community, and due to his appearance and attire, she believed him.

"He say him a go round and collect old clothes and supplies and if mi want fi make a monetary contribution," Mary told THE STAR. Touched by the man's story and guided by her Christian beliefs, she decided to give what she could.

"Mi a Christian and God bless me so me can work and provide for my family, so me say mi ago give back. Mi nuh have the money but mi go inna the house and dig up and give clothes, food, tissue, soap, all some cleaning things weh mi did have," she said.

Mary said that she felt good being able to give, as she had always wanted to help persons affected by Hurricane Melissa, but did not know who was collecting for the cause. While helping the man pack the items into a large suitcase, she noticed it was already filled.

"Me see whole heap more things in deh weh him say other people give him. Him say him a go down inna the place dem weh mash up and to how it bad, what him have is nothing," she recalled.

The man returned a second time, and Mary went even further. She gathered brand new clothes, shoes and food supplies she got from her employers.

"Mi get one seal jug a oil from mi boss give him, the big pack a rice dem weh come from foreign, flour and sugar, things weh mi woulda want fi myself," she said.

But she was shocked when a church sister later told her that the same man had visited her and that word was circulating in nearby communities that he was not part of any official relief initiative.

"She tell mi say she find out is a man weh walk and beg long before the storm and always have some sad story. Either him say him sick or him children hungry so him can get things from people," Mary said. Realising she had been conned, she admitted she felt embarrassed.

"The man fool mi wicked, but because mi eager fi help, mi no ask no question. Mi boss say mi shoulda ask which organisation him come from but my mind never even go deh so," she added.

According to official reports, more than 170 communities in six parishes were severely affected. Jamaicans locally and overseas have been donating food, clothes and building supplies through churches, government agencies and community drives.

"People haffi just be careful of who dem a give dem things because not every boy who cry wolf see wolf. Scammers deh inna all form so watch out fi dem," Mary warned. "Them a thief outta hungry people mouth and God nuh sleep."

*Name changed to protect identity