Swindled

• US authorities claim Jamaican scammers reap millions by preying on seniors

United States authorities say that millions of dollars, tucked away by senior citizens for their retirement, are now ending up in the pockets of Jamaican crime syndicates.

"It is a plague," said US Postal Inspector Bladismir Rojo, adding, "when word-of-mouth spreads of free money, there is no way to put it out."

Rojo told reporters here that lottery frauds, based in Jamaica, have exploded in popularity, with estimates that as much as US$300 million will be bilked from US residents, largely the elderly, this year alone.

He said proceeds from the alleged swindles are used to buy guns, drugs and flashy cars in Jamaica, with gang members sometimes fighting and dying over the illicit cash.

Rojo said during this month alone, he received separate complaints involving senior citizens in Fort Lauderdale and Aventura, who each lost more than US$50,000 to Jamaica-based lottery scams.

Great losses

Authorities say victims of the frauds have lost homes, maxed out their credit cards and sometimes become targets of physical threats.

While there are variations of the scam, the essence is always the same: Victims are informed they have won prizes or money, but to claim their winnings, they need to wire money to cover fees or taxes, Rojo said.

He said once victims send money, the telemarketers press them to send more. In extreme cases, authorities say, victims have ended up losing more than US$500,000.

Rojo said the telemarketers often disguise their phone numbers to make it look like they are calling from somewhere in the United States.