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Police hunt for 20-y-o lottery scammer

Published: Thursday April 19, 2012 | 9:01 pm Comments 0

The Area One police say they are on the hunt for a 20-year-old man they believe is a major player in the lottery scam.

A police team yesterday swooped down on his two-storey home in Norwood, Montego Bay.

Head of the Lottery Scam Task Force Superintendent Leon Clunis said the 20-year-old appeared on the police’s radar after he amassed a significant amount of wealth.

Clunis said the police seized several items including $1.8 million in cash, a motor car and flat-screen television sets.

The police say computers and equipment believes to be used in scam were also seized.

According to Clunis, two men who were found in a room at the house with a list of the names of people living overseas were arrested.

A woman believed to be the suspect’s girlfriend and his father were also arrested..

Clunis said the people had made calls to the foreigners.

He is making a strong appeal for the 20-year-old suspect and his mother to turn in themselves.

Meanwhile, speaking at a press conference today State Minister in the Technology Ministry Julian Robinson said the Government is moving to introduce tougher legislation to tackle the infamous lottery scam.

Jamaican lottery scammers have been blamed for fleecing billions of dollars from unsuspecting persons in the United States.

According to Robinson, approximately 30 thousand calls are made each day to the United States by Jamaican criminals attempting to defraud persons.

He says it is estimated that Jamaican criminals earn approximately US$300 million annually from the lottery scam.

radio@gleanerjm.com

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