As allegations of policemen extorting lottery scammers continue to mount, the Anti-Lottery Scam Task Force (ALSTF) will be stepping up its efforts in coming weeks to nab corrupt colleagues engaged in the illegal activity.
Just recently, a policeman was indicted for his involvement in lottery scamming.
“…And as it relates to police facilitating lotto scamming activities, we want to say we will be working with the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) to clamp down on these persons. It is something that we take very seriously, and so you will see an increased effort in the coming weeks and months as it relates to partnering with MOCA to clamp down on these dishonest police officers who continue to facilitate and encourage these activities,” declared Sergeant Kevin Watson of the ALSTF.
He also issued a stern warning to people who use proceeds from lottery scamming to purchase assets on behalf of scammers, warning that they could be prosecuted if caught.
“We want to encourage persons not to facilitate, not to help persons, not to allow these criminals to put assets in their names because ultimately, when the investigation is completed … and it is found that you purchased assets in your name, then you will also be brought before the court with the criminal and your assets will also be seized,” Sergeant Watson warned.
In the meantime, Sergeant Watson said that the anti-lottery scam task force has forged a partnership withmoney remittance agencies, which have been busy staging seminars aimed at discouraging customer service representatives from colluding with players in lottery scam.
“So far, we have had several lectures over the past couple of months where we lecture close to 400 customer service agents about the criminality and the immorality of lotto scamming, and also encouraging them to work with law enforcement to help to stop these activities,” Sergeant Watson disclosed.
He added: “We have realised that, over time, some remittance customer service agents are susceptible to corruption. The lotto scammers will try to corrupt them at times like paying them to facilitate their activities to clear money from overseas and so on.”
Since the start of the year, three people employed as customer service representatives at remittance service agencies have been arrested and charged for breaches of the Law Reform Fraudulent Transaction (Special Provisions) Act, Watson revealed.
“I want to remind the public that if you use remittance services to transfer money from a place outside Jamaica to a place inside Jamaica in relation to lottery scamming, this is an offence under Section 6 of the Law Reform Fraudulent Transaction (Special Provisions) Act,” he emphasised.