The legislation aimed at combatting the lottery scam will be again debated Thursday in the Senate. Local attorneys have raised concerns about the wide reach of the proposed legislation, and the possibility for abuse. This caused the senators to postpone their vote on the bill for a week to facilitate further examination of its provisions.
The lottery scam, perpetrated via telephone to unwitting (mainly elderly) victims in the United States, has gained significant attention in the United States.
The Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions Special Provisions) Act, which specifically targets the lottery scam and other related fraudulent actions, was passed in the Jamaican House of Representatives a week ago. It was then sent to the Senate where it's passage was stalled.
The lottery scam has gained significant attention from both the US media and the Government of the United States, with criticism being levelled at Jamaica about the efforts being made to stem the activity.
The US Senate Special Committee on Ageing brought the matter to the attention of Congress last week, with detailed accounts on how the scam affectged elderly Americans.
The lottery scam legislation, among other things, addresses obtaining property or inducing individuals to confer benefits on any person by false pretence and knowingly conducting a financial transaction with the proceeds.