Dear Editor,

Dujon Russell

The recent media reports that there are a number of Jamaican lawyers who the authorities in the United States believe to be complicit in lottery scamming is alarming.

According to the public affairs counsellor at the US Embassy in Kingston, Joshua Polacheck, there are several lawyers who are under federal investigations, as well as up to 500 cases of Jamaicans, for their suspected involvement in the deadly scam, many of whom are at the pre-extradition stage.

It is shocking and embarrassing to learn that some of the very people who are entrusted with upholding the law and protecting the rights of their clients have been lured into this criminal network, which continues to rear its ugly head.

This illicit scheme has resulted in the bilking of millions of dollars from many vulnerable Americans, as well as the scourge of rival gang feuds and killings over the spoils in Jamaica.

Apparently, some of the local remittance service agents are either negligent or complicit in the lottery scam. What explains how the scammers frequently collect huge sums of money from people in the US, who they don’t know, without being flagged as suspicious?

We have two major telecoms companies (Digicel and FLOW) that are utilising the latest technology. Why aren’t we leveraging technology in the fight against the lottery scam and other crimes?

Stakeholders have been proactive in carrying out public education initiatives about lottery scamming in the schools and in some inner-city communities, mainly in the western parishes. How effective are those interventions? Have the children and the unattached youth received the message? What about the other parts of the country in which lottery scamming is rising or prevalent?

We suspect scammers because they have never worked one day in their lives, or inherited any wealth, yet they flaunt cash at parties and events, live in mansions, and drive expensive vehicles. Why aren’t we helping the authorities more by reporting our suspicions?

The lottery scam phenomenon has reached epidemic proportions. Its prevalence, especially among the younger demographic, has resulted in negative benefits which not only cause significant loss to the vulnerable Americans, but it destroys lives and Jamaica’s image.

If we are really serious about eliminating the lottery scamming, then we should put the effective measures in place now to scrutinise, prosecute and make it difficult for these criminals — including the lawyers, remittance agents, and the common man to operate with such ease and convenience within our space.

It is time for us to collectively increase the pressure on the scammers and their facilitators.

dujon.russell@yahoo.com