Five years of cyber hell: TikToker torments Old Harbour woman

Kareen Martin, a resident of the Gutters community, said since 2021, multiple TikTok pages have been created using her name, photographs and personal information to spread false and damaging allegations about her, her family and persons associated with her.

According to Martin, the pages have repeatedly targeted her romantic relationships, friendships and family members by posting fabricated stories and allegedly contacting people directly with false claims.

“Any relationship I am in, they come about that person, claiming the person is their man. They have destroyed all my relationships, spread lies about me and my family, and made my life a nightmare. They created so many horrible AI pictures of me,” she told Old Harbour News in an exclusive interview.

Among the slew of allegations she says have been circulated online are false claims that she is involved in criminal activity, has various medical conditions, and has engaged in inappropriate relationships with her brother and other men. She further stated that the operators of the pages have used photographs of her child as profile pictures and shared personal information about family members.

Martin also claims that a fraudulent bank transaction receipt bearing her name was circulated online, falsely suggesting she paid $30,000 to individuals behind the pages in an attempt to stop the harassment.

“I can prove on my bank statement that no such transaction ever took place. I have never paid or send anyone any money but they make it so believable. I tried changing my phone number but every number I change, they manage to get it somehow. They even post that they are having popcorn while watching me go through all this. They also said that anyone I am associated with, will be targeted as well,” she shared.

Martin says the gravity of the harassment has extended beyond social media posts, with anonymous callers contacting her and members of her family at various hours of the day and night. She says individuals connected to her have also received messages containing false information intended to create conflict with her families and friends.

The ongoing situation has taken a significant toll on Martin’s mental health.

“Because of the constant harassment, I can’t function properly. They named the page ‘Careen’ from Jamaica Boilers while I was still working and when I leave the job, they named it ‘Careen’ from Gutters. I think it is someone who know the family well doing this and people will believe because they are explaining in-dept. ‘Queeny’, the twin girl… Sherika sister’. So they know me and my twin sister different and they even ‘class’ her also. Them call my best friend to try put her up against me. People reached out to us and even sending threats,” she said.

The stress caused by the cyberbullying contributed to her leaving a previous job and has made it difficult for her to
live normally within her community.

Her sister Sherika Martin, is also greatly affected by the situation. “They started on me as well and curse me a lot. Every day them slander my name too. My sister and I are tired of it now and need immediate attention on the matter. Each time we report it to the police, them take down the page then them make a next one shortly after, hence why they have so many pages out there,” shared Sherika.

Martin says she has submitted evidence including screenshots, call logs and other records to the police, but remains frustrated by the lack of progress with the investigation undertaken by the Old Harbour Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB). Authorities have not publicly identified any suspect in connection with the complaints by Martin.

Old Harbour News reviewed screenshots provided by Kareen that appear to show multiple TikTok posts containing derogatory remarks and allegations involving her, relatives and other individuals. The publication also reviewed a screenshot of a transaction receipt that Martin said was fabricated to falsely suggest she paid money to the operators of one of the accounts.

The case highlights growing concerns surrounding cyberbullying, online impersonation and the misuse of
social media platforms to harass individuals and spread misinformation.

Anyone found responsible for creating fake accounts, impersonating others, publishing defamatory content or
engaging in cyber harassment may face legal consequences under Jamaican law.