“The scamma dem deh yah and they keep multiplying.”

The number of persons involved in the illegal act of lottery scamming continues to grow and is spreading across Jamaica.

Lottery scamming is a large-scale operation that typically uses lottery scam ploys to get innocent people to give up their money and is usually done over the phone.

Speaking earlier today (July 14) at a the annual Anti-Fraud Seminar hosted by Jamaica Bankers Association (JBA) and Jamaica Institute of Financial Services (JIFS), Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llwellyn did not hold back her views on what is happening in the dancehall culture which she claimed plays a massive role in cyber fraud.

According to Llewellyn, the rapid increase in cyber fraud that the country is currently grappling with is as a result of the music the youths are listening to and the messages that are celebrated in these songs.

Dancehall music has come under fire in recent times for what many deem as negative behaviour.

The genre has become symbolic for producing lyrics that are sexually degrading and violent.

The newest member in the lineup seems to be ‘choppa’ lyrics as several artiste are now putting out what are dubbed ‘choppa’ songs.

“Big crook, big meech, we a big thief…

“Text now mi a beat wid a quick lead…

“Lone line mi chap up mi nuh mince beef…

“Miss Jen ask if mi a still thief…

Yes Miss Jen am still a thief still here committing criminal activities.”

These are a few lyrics from dancehall artiste Malie’s single, Bank, which was highlighted by Llewellyn.

“The music being played and songs by our young people glorifies chopping, which is to become a scamma. Our youths no longer aspire to a profession or a vocation, their aspiration is to become choppas,” Llewellyn argued.

EPICENTRES FOR CYBER FRAUD

She revealed that, while in Westmoreland recently, she observed that the majority of the new cases are those under lotto scamming offences.

“I think 80 of the cases were for … identity theft and most of them were youngsters,”she added.

The DPP noted that parishes such as Trelawny, St James, Hanover and St Elizabeth are considered epicentres for cyber fraud.

“Fraud has become a go-to methodology for any and everyone, especially our young people, most want to hustle in the digital space,” she stated.

Scamming has reportedly increased since the pandemic and Llewellyn is of the view that the idea of scamming became more attractive during that time.

“Two years from normalcy has caused dislocation in terms of the psychology of our youngsters who see the concept of ‘hustling’ by using their device to tune in to making easy money, at the expense of others, to get material things,” she said.

Llewellyn believes a lot more needs to be done around public education for the youths within the society.

“All of you, as an association, need to put some funds together and fund an effective public education programme as part of us coming out of the pandemic and back to normalcy,” she said.

“We must seek to remind people of what it means to be a good citizen and why it is a must, that it is not good to be involved in scamming.”