Police say they have made their first arrest and charge of a suspect under what’s commonly called the Anti-Lottery Scam Act. However, police sources told The Times there was no need to panic that the Lotto Scam has taken root in St Ann.
Since last year when police stepped up their efforts against the Lottery Scam and scammers in Montego Bay, St James, under which millions of US dollars was stolen from unsuspecting US citizens mainly seniors, the lotto scammers are said to have moved to other parishes in the west, including Westmoreland, Hanover and Trelawny.The Lotto Scam is associated with violent crime and widespread web of criminality because of the large amounts of money involved.Last week, following intelligence, police led a raid to Cardiff Hall, Runaway Bay where they held a man with what they consider a common, prime piece of evidence indicating involvement in the Lotto Scam. He is said to have had with him, in a house, a book with names and addresses of people overseas, telephone numbers and credit information and other identification details for the persons overseas.Police said the man was interviewed and charged and is expected in court by Wednesday. However they would not release the name as US authorities as well as the Major Organized Crime and Anti-Corruption Task Force (MOCA) were also investigating. The suspect is from Westmoreland but was staying with a relative in Cardiff Hall.He was charged under the Law Reform Fraudulent Transactions Special Provisions Act, popularly referred to as the Anti-Lottery Scam Act.Most of the police arrests under the recently passed Act have taken place in Westmoreland and St Elizabeth. Police have warned that the scammers are spreading out and have advised homeowners to be careful of persons to whom they are renting their homes, as these may be scammers showing big bucks.
