Jamaica not unfairly targeted in lottery scam crackdown - Robinson

The Jamaican Government has dismissed claims the country is being unfairly targeted as a haven for lottery scammers.

The country has been facing increasing pressure from the United States to do more to fight the the activity because of the devastating financial impact on its senior citizens.

The Government faced more heat yesterday during a Senate Hearing, when the chairman of a Special Committee on Aging had called for the extradition of Jamaican scammers.

But some observers have questioned whether Jamaica is being singled out when several other countries, including Nigeria, also use the scam on Americans.

Speaking at a special press briefing this morning, ICT state minister, Julian Robinson noted that Jamaica cannot complain given the statistics.

About 30,000 calls linked to the lottery scam originate in Jamaica, daily.

Meanwhile, Chief of Operations for the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, Vince Callender has called on the US authorities to look at what Jamaica is doing in order to stamp out the crime.

Noting that the crime didn’t originate in Jamaica, the official said the Jamaican Government is way ahead in addressing the lottery scam.

The Law Reform Fraudulent Transactions Special Provisions Act 2013, which will outlaw scamming, is to go before the Jamaican Senate tomorrow for approval.

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