A Freelance Writer’s Life Abroad: Inside Peek at My Life as an American Living in Jamaica for a Year, Part X

June 18, 2010

In yesterday’s post, I responded to an American who wondered about finding work here in Negril “under the table/off the books”. Today, I wanted to add a little bit more to this post as I had to log off in a hurry yesterday and didn’t answer her entire question (ie, what’s going on with the upheaval in Kingston).

Editor Note: Learn how you too can live and work from an island paradise!

How to Work and Live Abroad from the Caribbean: It’s Easier Than You Think to Make the Move to an Island Paradise

The Unemployment Rate in Jamaica

I did some web surfing and the latest figures on the unemployment rate for Jamaica (2009) was 14.5%. Again, this seems low to me based on what I see on a daily basis here. And, when you consider that underemployment is as much a problem – maybe more – than unemployment, it makes it that much harder.

Following is some insight into poverty in Jamaica that may shed a little more light on what the people here face every day.

unemployment-rate-jamaicaJamaica’s poverty line in 2005 was US$2.60 per day (Knight 2006). Poverty in Jamaica is measured by the ability of households to attain a given level of consumption expenditure in keeping with minimum food and non-food requirements. . . .  

a more nuanced picture lies behind statistical generalisations. Take for example the variable of gender: the conditions of men and women differ significantly and the situation of urban women may be more comparable to that of rural women than that of her male, urban counterparts. In 2004, the labour force participation rate for men was 73.1% and 56.2% for women; the male unemployment rate was 8.2%, while that of women was 18.8%. The job-seeking rate for men was 4.6%, and women’s was 9.8% (Planning Institute of Jamaica 2005b). In 1999, 67% of “female-headed” households reported unmet basic needs, compared to 58% of “male-headed” households. [Source]

What’s Going on In Kingston? Is It Safe in to Come to Negril (or Jamaica in General)?

is-jamaica-safeAs I’ve said all along, it couldn’t be more safe here in Negril, which is about 5.5 hours away from Kingston. My personal feeling is that because Negril is a tourist haven, the powers that be go through extra measures here to keep this area safe.

But because Negril is far away from Kingston, we haven’t felt any of the upheaval here – at all. I haven’t felt one whit less safe than I have in all the other times I’ve come.

Negril, Jamaica: Apartment Scams on Websites Like Craigslist, Et Al

The person who emailed me said that she was paying $650 for an apartment and wanted to know why my accommodations here in Negril were so much cheaper than hers.

Here, I’ll use Craigslist as an example. I only point out Craigslist because I’ve had personal experience with scammers on this site when I placed an ad back in the fall looking for a rental/sublet. In reality though, it can happen no matter what site you use to find an apartment if you want to live abroad.

The reason this stands out to me now is because of the $650 the person who emailed me said she was paying. That’s exactly what the scammers tried to charge me. Please, please be careful if you go this route looking for an apartment in Jamaica – or any foreign country.

How Many “Renting in a Foreign Country Apartment Scams” Work

Most will say that they have a perfect place right in the area you’re looking in. They’ll say something to the effect of they’re going to study/work abroad and need to rent the place. And, that’s why the rent is so cheap (if it is).

They’ll also say that because they are “out of the country” you’ll to wire them part (or all) of the money to secure the place. Once they get this money, they’ll say that they’ll send you the key and you can pay the rest once you receive it. Don’t do it!

“Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, send a stranger money to rent a place in a foreign country – ever!”

No matter how good, tempting, etc. the offer sounds. Their goal is to get money out of you – any amount of money. Usually, from what I’ve read, once they get the first payment, you’ll never hear from them again.  

Tips for Avoiding Apartment Hunting Scams in Jamaica on Craigslist (and Other Websites)

Dhow-to-avoid-apartment-scamsON’T Send Money: Never ever send money beforehand (as many will ask you to do).

DO Google the Email Address of any respondents who contact you. That was one of the first things I did. And guess what, the scammer was so stupid that it took me right to a site that listed email addresses and other info of people who run Craigslist apartment scams like this.

DO Ask for Photos: Just be aware that many will take photos from legitimate ads and send them to you. I did and got THE SAME PHOTOS from two different respondents. Talk about stupid criminals!

DO Ask for Referrals: From previous tenants, from current residents who live in the building, from the landlord.

DO Ask for Surrounding Information: For example, you might want to ask for neighboring street addresses and close supermarkets, cleaners, restaurants, etc. Then, Google this info to see if it checks out.

DO Listen to Your Gut: No matter how good the offer sounds and how scared you may be of losing “a good deal,” listen to your gut.

As I do business online, when anyone asks me for money up front, that’s a major red flag. Remember in a previous post about living in Jamaica when I said living in a big city like New York prepares you for some things travelling will throw your way? Well, this was one of those times.

As soon as I started getting responses to the ad I placed on Craigslist, I knew I wasn’t going to find a place that way because the scams came fast and furious – and most were remarkably the same (with bad spelling and grammar to boot!).

In My Opinion, the Best Way to Find an Apartment in Jamaica (or Any Foreign Country)

If you don’t know anyone, budget for a hotel for a week or so. When you get here, then do your looking. It’s the only way you can be guaranteed NOT to be taken advantage of.

Hope this helps.

I’m so far behind in my work that I’m going to have to put in some hours this weekend. Hope yours is work free. That’s it for this Girl a Go Go this Friday!

Best,
Yuwanda
P.S.: Want to start a successful freelance writing career where you have the mobility to live and work where you please? Visit our freelance writing bookstore.

P.P.S.: Want an easy, fast way to get started in affiliate marketing, making as much as $50, $100 or $150/day? Get How to Make Money Placing Ads on Free Classified Ad Sites (ie, Backpage.com). If you want to make some easy money promoting affiliate products on free classified ad sites, this ebook is for you. I’ve personally sold tens of thousands of dollars of e-products (my own and affiliate products) doing this since January 2009.

P.P.P.S.: Find this post informative? Follow Me (Inkwell Editorial) on Twitter.

Copyright © 2010: All material on this site is copyright protected and cannot be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without my written consent (linking to is fine).


Related Posts

A Freelance Writer’s Life Abroad: Inside Peek at My Life as an American Living in Jamaica for a Year, Part IX
A Freelance Writer’s Life Abroad: Inside Peek at My Life as an American Living in Jamaica for a Year, Part VI
A Freelance Writer’s Life Abroad: Inside Peek at My Life as an American Living in Jamaica for a Year, Part III
A Freelance Writer’s Life Abroad: Inside Peek at My Life as an American Living in Jamaica for a Year, Part II
A Freelance Writer’s Life Abroad: Inside Peek at My Life as an American Living in Negril, Jamaica for a Year, Part I

Share and Enjoy:

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google


Comments are closed.

Inkwell Editorial

Learn how to start a career as a freelance writer -- full-time or part-time. These instructional guides on freelance writing teach you everything you need to know. You can get started right away.

Inkwell Editorial

How to Start a Successful Freelance Career Newsletter: Get concrete specifics on how to start, grow and run a successful freelance writing career.