The five were detained in a sting operation in St James last Friday, carried out by members of the Serious and Organised Crime Branch and the St James Police.

The accused were being questioned in the presence of their lawyers up to late last week. Four remain at the Montego Freeport lock-up, while the fifth, a man deported from the United States (US), is being held in Kingston.

Not divulging information

Police are not divulging much information on the matter at this time, in an effort to not prejudice their investigations.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Les Green, in charge of the Serious and Organised Crime Branch, told The Gleaner that the deported suspect is a major player in the scam. He was picked up in Cambridge.

"We have collected a lot of evidence from his address, such as computers, name lists, cash and fraudulent credit cards and credit card-copying devices. He has been very active and has also benefited to a great extent," Green said.

Green told The Gleaner that his department had already made contact with its counterpart in the US to ferret out information on the suspect. Police have not released his name.

Green said the man was involved in several promotions scams, purporting to be representing government officials and hotel chains, awarding free holidays and charging a fee for persons to claim their prizes.

He noted that scammers tell unsuspecting victims the claim fee is to go towards tax, administration or other fees.

Green said investigations have revealed that persons have been fleeced of up to US$300,000 in some cases.

"Once these persons make a payment, the scammers keep asking them to pay more and more for different purposes until, in many instances, they have run out of funds. This can be very devastating," he said.

He also noted recent reports of US citizens committing suicide after mortgaging their houses to finance fee payments with the hope of being rewarded millions of dollars in lottery winnings.

"Greed might be a factor in some cases, but these scammers target the elderly because sometimes they live alone, they are lonely, they love to talk and so they are more likely to become easy targets," Green argued.