Jamaica crackdown on internet lottery scammers continues

Police in Jamaica continued this week to track down and arrest internet lottery scammers who have made elderly Americans their victims in the past

The latest arrests include two elected Jamaican municipal officials who stand accused of involvement in a multi-million dollar fraudster ring.

Police Superintendent Leon Clunis says officers arrested Kingston Deputy Mayor Michael Troupe and St. James Councillor Sylvan Reid, along with Troupe’s two sons. They were detained in an early morning police raid at their respective homes, where officers seized cash and firearms.

The police estimate that the lottery scam generated about $300 million a year, up from about $30 million three years ago.

Jamaica police have so far detained 142 people in connection with the scam, although to date only 19 have been formally charged.