Key Player Arrested In Jamaican Lottery Scam
Woman Commits Suicide After Losing Life's Savings To Con Artists
POSTED: 5:30 pm CST February 24, 2009
UPDATED: 3:54 pm CST February 25, 2009
GREENDALE, Wis. -- Police in Greendale say they’ve arrested a key player in a Jamaican lottery scam.
Detectives said the group behind the plan has swindled thousands from people across the nation.
A Greendale man said that he lost thousands after getting a call from the crooks.
The group is described as a Jamaican organized crime ring. The man police arrested is being held in the state of Georgia.
Officers said he’s a mule for the group and a middle man in the con to separate elderly Americans from their savings.
The Greendale victim agreed to talk to 12 News about the incident. His name is being protected for security reasons.
“Sam” said that the calls he received from Jamaica promised prize money for a small processing fee.
"They make it sound very legitimate, and they've got documentation to prove it and everything else," Sam said.
He wired the group $3,500 in hopes of collecting $1.8 million. Sam said he went to police after requests for more cash kept coming.
"I have to go where? Go right back to Moneygram so they can receive it? Why do I always have to go to Moneygram?" Sam said.
The lottery scam has made international headlines and according to the Jamaican media, has fueled competitive and violent organized gangs.
Homicides in Jamaica exceeded 1,200 last year alone. Jamaican authorities said that torture and beheadings are rising due to turf wars over the scheme, as well.
The group targets elderly Americans who've proved a fertile market for fraud and their impact is devastating.
A New Jersey woman committed suicide after she learned she'd lost her life savings -- $248,000.
Though Jamaican police identified her scammer, they dropped the charges because the woman couldn't testify.
Greendale's police chief said crossing international borders makes these cases tough to crack.
"The authority the U.S. has in these things, going out to other countries, is very limited. As far as subpoenaing records, getting bank records, and even trying to extradite them back from these other countries," Chief Robert Dams said.
Greendale police located the alleged bagman who collected Sam's cash in North Georgia.
Investigators said he told them that he gets a cut, then sends the rest of the money to Jamaica.
Greendale plans to prosecute him but officials said they doubt they'll ever find the Jamaican masterminds who continue to solicit Sam.
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