Western Bureau: DESPITE THE advent of JOLT (Jamaican Operations Linked to Telemarketing) and other policing initiatives, players in the infamous 'lotto scam' continue to rake in big bucks using new technology and creative ways to fleece unsuspecting victims.

Scammers no longer use cellular phones, as the calls can be easily tracked. Instead, they have been using laptop computers and Magic Jack - a more sophisticated method - which shows the calls as originating in the United States.

According to a source familiar with the scam, to make their illicit activities look authentic, scammers are reportedly telling their victims that because unscrupulous persons (scammers) have compromised the Jamaican Lottery Company operations in Jamaica, notifications are now being done out of the US - hence the calls with the laptop and Magic Jack.

"Players have been busted in the past because the police found them with several cellular phones and SIM cards," the source said.

computer glitch

Initially, the Magic Jack-laptop combination reportedly had a glitch, which resulted in garbled sounds. However, with the help of skilled local computer technicians, a way has been found to remove the glitch, which now allows callers and receivers to enjoy crystal-clear connections.

"A man can park his car anywhere in Jamaica, even where telephone signal is supposed to be bad, and just make a clean call," he said.

When contacted about the alleged use of this new technology by scammers, head of the Major Investigation Task Force , Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Les Green, said the police were aware of it.

"We know about it and it is not affecting our efforts to apprehend these scammers," said ACP Green. "While it appears that we are moving slowly, we are getting there. Yesterday (Monday), we carried out an operation in Montego Bay and several persons were held," ACP Green added.

The lotto scam, which had its genesis in Montego Bay in early 2005, has been generating vast sums of money for the scammers, who con Americans and other foreigners into sending them money under the pretext that they are paying processing fees for a fictitious lottery, which their victims have been fooled into believing they had won.

While the ill-gotten cash has brought wealth to many communities across St James, it has also brought pain and misery, as according to police statistics, scam-related conflict is responsible for more than 80 per cent of the more than 100 murders committed annually in St James since the advent of the scam.

multimillion-dollar industry

"The scam is a multimillion-dollar industry, which is fuelling money into the criminal underworld," ACP Denver Frater told a Gleaner Editor's Forum last year. "The money is being used to buy high-powered guns and expensive cars, which has made this new generation of criminals highly mobile."

While the combination of Operation King Fish and JOLT has managed to arrest several major players, the scam has seemingly not lost much momentum, as even schoolchildren, who were formerly used to pick up cash at remittance centres, are now themselves becoming major players.

"Yes, students are involved and they are very bold with it," Superintendent Fitz Bailey, head of the Organised Crime Investigation Division, stated in a recent Sunday Gleaner story.

In what appears to be a dual act of undermining the efforts of the police while at the same time further enriching themselves, some scammers have even resorted to impersonating the police.

According to a source familiar with the scam, some scammers a told their victims that they were police officers investigating persons involved in the scam. They then asked persons to send money under the pretext that they involved in a sting operation aimed at apprehending the scammers.

"These people are told that their money will be returned once the sting operation is concluded," the source said. "Needless to say, if these people are foolish enough to send their money, they would again be left holding the proverbial bag."

According to police statistics, last year, unsuspecting Americans were fleeced out of approximately US$30 million by local scammers. JOLT was formed as one of the many initiatives by the police to tackle the scam, which informed sources say, has the capacity to destroy the local telemarketing sector.

The following conversation was overheard between a scammer and an American resident, who he had previously conned into believing he had won a fictitious Jamaican lottery. The scammer used a modified laptop, equipped with a Magic Jack, to make the call.

The conversation, which took place in a computer technician's shop, where this reporter had gone to have a laptop repaired, was done speaker-earphone-style, as the scammer seemed unconcerned about who was listening to him.

Scammer: Hi John, how are you doing today?

The Victim: I am okay. To whom I am speaking?

Scammer: This is Victor from the Jamaica Lottery Company. Remember me?

The Victim: Ohhh, Victor. I have been waiting for your call since Tuesday.

Scammer: I didn't want to call you until you sent off the package.

The Victim: But I did. I sent $1,500 two days ago.

Scammer: You did!

The Victim: It was sent to your off-shore location in Montego Bay.

Scammer: I was not informed that your package had arrived ... . In any event, the incorrect sum was sent. One thousand five hundred dollars only covers taxation ... . You should have also included the fee for insurance and postage, which is another $1,500.

The Victim: Ohhhh! I must have misunderstood what you said. Okay, I will have my wife send off the additional sum today.

Scammer: Very good. If we receive your package by midday today, we will send off your package sometime this afternoon.

The Victim: So that is it?

Scammer: That is it, John. It is always a pleasure doing business with you.

As the call between the scammer and his victim ended, the scammer, with a broad smile, snapped his finger, turned his attention to the people who were listening in on his conversation and said, "Bingo!"