Melissa washes away scammers’ millions

When Hurricane Melissa battered western Jamaica, it not only destroyed infrastructure and washed away crops but also put a damper on the island's underground lottery scamming network.

As floodwaters churned, scammers say millions that were hidden in yards and makeshift pits were either washed away or swallowed by the mud. One scammer told THE WEEKEND STAR that many suffered significant losses .

"A lot of dawg them guh through it. Dem affi look dem food a different way yuh understand. Because mi know couple who lose food like that because of where dem live, deh so mash up bad. So money wash weh or blow weh, cars mash up too and up until now dem nuh find back nothing," he said. He added that the widespread blackout meant many have possibly missed out on millions.

"Can't give a figure or amount because of how the game work, because yuh never know wah tomorrow can bring. Today you get up, nothing, tomorrow you have millions; a just so the thing go" he explained.

"A nuff yute a miss out pon them day because dem can't really push out a certain way and then anuh everyone have the money for the Starlink yet," he added.

With service from local Internet providers going down after Hurricane Melissa, many Jamaicans relied on Starlink, the satellite Internet provider created by billionaire Elon Musk for communication. However, scammers believe that the technology can make them more visible to US law enforcement.

"Him (Musk) and [US President Donald] Trump have some form of understanding, so the man dem weh a do the game aguh fear. We pass the banger phone. Dem phone deh stop use so wi need the Internet," the scammer said. "Listen man, a that dem a use it to do, to spy. Even people over deh (America) tell wi say them thing deh store yuh data and anything you do inna real life."

But, he said that Starlink is not a deterrent for the experienced scammers, and that some are adapting by relocating to urban areas.

"Some have to move out a di west. Dem affi move go Kingston, base up a town now fi Internet, and eventually just live up deh. Kingston a nice place, enuh, so dem ago just mek money," he said.

"Di others can't do better, so dem affi just hol' out until them can switch. Nuff man ago use it but not at their house or where dem sleep," he added.

Weeks after Melissa, some financial operations also shut down, but the scammer said they have found alternative ways to receive money. However, some continue to lose opportunities daily.