Police charge 2 suspects in lottery scam probe

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Police in Jamaica have charged two young men with alleged involvement in the Caribbean country’s lucrative lottery scam.

A 19-year-old car mechanic and a 20-year-old farmer have been arrested by police in the town of Black River in the southern parish of St. Elizabeth. They were each charged with possession of identity information after officers allegedly found them with lists with names, addresses, Social Security numbers and other personal details of residents of the United States.

Police said Sunday the men are due to appear in court on Wednesday.

Jamaican scam artists use disposable cellphones to cheat mostly elderly Americans out of their savings by enticing them to transfer money to claim winnings from a phony lottery. Victims who fall for the trick then get harassed for more money.