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No to lotto extraditions

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Dear Editor,

While it is true that a jellyfish has more spines than our politicians, I am of the opinion that blaming them and the police alone concerning the lottery scam is unfair.

I am afraid that the "bandwagonists" and cowards in Jamaica are now going to come out and take sides, after reading the article entitled "Extradite Scammers - US Senators Blast Jamaica for Slow Action to Combat Lottery Scam." Which side are they going to take? Your guess is as good as mine.

Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, is one of five senators -- three Democrats and two Republicans -- who introduced legislation recently designed to control illegal trafficking in firearms. Collins joins Democrats Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Dick Durbin of Illinois and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, as well as Republican Mark Kirk of Illinois, in unveiling the "Stop Illegal Trafficking of Firearms Act of 2013". The bill is designed to help law enforcement crack down on "straw purchasers", people who buy guns for others who are legally prohibited from doing so.

While Senator Collins is among a group of senators sponsoring a bill that might help Jamaica in the long run, calling for the extradition of the scammers is a bit over the top. It must be said loud and clear that the United States of America is not doing enough to help its citizens defeating these scumbags.

Some of the police officers in Jamaica are incompetent, politicians and police officers are keeping schtum and political parties are reaping from this illegal practice, which is why there are no serious laws to combat the lottery scam. I am of the opinion that people who got caught up in the lottery scam were gullible and greedy. How can you win something that you took no part in, especially millions of dollars in a country that you probably never visited?

My inbox is littered every day with people telling me I won United Nations, UK lottery, Bill Gates and many more lotto games worth millions of dollars. I am still poor as a church mouse because I never took part in any of those lotto games. Calling for the extradition of the scammers and forgetting to teach your fellow citizens to be mindful about easy money is not going to help the situation.

"I suspect that the Jamaican phone scam is one of the worst," Collins said. She noted that to most Americans, "Jamaica was a tropical paradise with beautiful white sand beaches, lush green mountains and vibrant sunshine.

"We have all seen those ads full of gorgeous scenery and upbeat music calling Americans to come and feel the spirit of Jamaica," she said. "But beneath the Jamaica of those enticing ads and the tourists' dreams lurks another Jamaica, one that brings nightmares to elderly Americans targeted by Jamaican criminals intent on swindling them out of their life savings. She told the committee that an estimated 30,000 phone calls are made daily by Jamaican scammers, who she described as "masters of manipulation" who play to their victims fears and emotions "until they drain them of every dime".

America is the richest country in the world. It has some of the best universities in the world, has some of the best scientists, had the great Abraham Lincoln as its president, has a black president for the first time and produced some of the best movies. But I had no idea that it had so many gullible citizens, people who think that money grows on trees.

For the lottery scam to end, the USA will need to educate its citizens about cybercrimes and Jamaica needs to tell its police officers and politicians to have the backbone to trample this lottery scam once and for all.

Hero Scott

herocarlito@yahoo.com

No to lotto extraditions

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