Haiti Scams: Tourist, Online & Investment Fraud Guide
Haiti's severe security and economic instability has fueled remittance fraud, fake NGO/charity schemes, and kidnapping-related extortion targeting families abroad.
Emergency number: 114 — verify on official sources.
Last reviewed: 5 July 2026
Haiti's prolonged instability, gang control of parts of Port-au-Prince, and heavy reliance on diaspora remittances create a distinct fraud landscape: scammers frequently pose as relatives in distress or fake kidnapping situations to extort money from family members in the US, Canada or France. Fraudulent charity and NGO appeals citing earthquake or hurricane relief are common online, exploiting genuine humanitarian need. Because travel to Haiti is currently subject to serious security warnings from most governments, tourist scams are far less relevant than remittance, charity and diaspora-targeted fraud.
Common scams
- Fake kidnapping or emergency calls claiming a family member has been taken and demanding urgent wire transfers
- Fraudulent charity and disaster-relief appeals exploiting earthquake or hurricane coverage
- Money transfer and remittance fraud where an agent intercepts or redirects funds sent via wire services
- Fake customs or import fee demands for packages supposedly sent from abroad
Tourist-specific scams
- Unofficial guides or fixers demanding payment at ports and border crossings with the Dominican Republic
- Overcharging for taxi and moto-taxi transport, especially for anyone perceived as a foreign visitor
- Note: most governments currently advise against travel to Haiti due to security conditions, not tourism-specific fraud
Online shopping scams
- Facebook and WhatsApp appeals impersonating aid organizations soliciting donations for Haiti relief
- Phishing messages impersonating Digicel or Natcom asking customers to 'confirm' mobile money details
- Romance and diaspora-targeted scams requesting money transfers for family emergencies
Job scams
- Fake overseas work or resettlement offers charging upfront fees for visas that are never delivered
- NGO or relief-agency hiring scams collecting personal documents and processing fees
Romance scams
- Profiles targeting the Haitian diaspora abroad, building trust before requesting funds for 'emergencies' in Haiti
- Scammers claiming to be stranded family members or partners needing urgent money transfers
Investment scams
- Reconstruction and infrastructure investment pitches referencing post-disaster rebuilding that don't exist
- Cryptocurrency schemes marketed to the Haitian diaspora promising high guaranteed returns
How to report a scam here
- If a kidnapping or extortion call is suspected, try to verify directly with the family member through a separate channel before sending any money
- Report the incident to the Police Nationale d'Haïti where safe and possible to do so
- Contact your money transfer provider (Western Union, MoneyGram, etc.) immediately to try to halt or trace the transfer
- If scammed from abroad, report to your home country's fraud agency (e.g. FTC, Action Fraud, Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre)
- Verify any charity soliciting Haiti relief donations through registries like Charity Navigator before giving
Local reporting & protection links
- Police Nationale d'Haïti — Report in person where safe; dial 114 for police emergencies
- Money transfer fraud — Contact Western Union, MoneyGram or the relevant transfer provider directly to report and attempt to halt a transfer
Always verify reporting routes and emergency contacts on the official government or agency website for your country.
Bank & payment guidance
Notify your bank or money transfer provider in writing and as soon as possible, since branch networks and phone banking are unreliable in many areas of Haiti.
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot all messages, profiles, websites and payment pages
- Save transaction references, account numbers and crypto wallet addresses
- Keep emails with full headers where possible
- Note dates, times, names and phone numbers used
Frequently asked questions
How can I verify a 'kidnapping' call about a family member in Haiti is real?
Try to contact the family member directly through another phone number or messaging app before sending any money; genuine kidnappers rarely allow this, and scammers often rely on panic to prevent verification.
Are Haiti relief charity appeals on social media trustworthy?
Verify any charity through an independent registry such as Charity Navigator or the charity's official website before donating, since fraudulent relief appeals are common after major disasters.
Sources
- National police and cybercrime portals (verify on official sites)
- FTC / Action Fraud / Scamwatch consumer guidance