Engineer leaves job to become a scammer

Marcus* says he left the corporate world behind several years ago to pursue a far more lucrative, but illegal, career as a scammer.

Working in the corporate sector, the now 34-year-old said he earned a little more than $250,000 per month, a salary he considered respectable but ultimately limiting.

"It was stable, but it wasn't the kind of money people think professionals - especially an engineer - is making," he told THE WEEKEND STAR.

So, about four years ago, Marcus, frustrated by what he considered slow financial progress, and influenced by acquaintances involved in lottery scamming, quit his engineering job. Today, he claims his earnings far exceed what he made during his professional career, even though the income varies.

"Some months you make a little less than you bargain for, like a two mil ($2 million)," he admitted. "Other months it triple that, a lot more than what I made in a year working corporate."

Jamaican lottery scams have targeted elderly Americans, tricking them into sending money or personal information under the false promise of lottery winnings. These schemes have caused significant financial losses and emotional distress, leaving many seniors vulnerable and fearful of trusting legitimate communications.

Marcus, a confessed participant in the scheme, now lives in an upscale St Andrew community known for its quiet streets and large homes, a far cry from the communities typically associated with Jamaica's scamming trade.

"People think it's just youth from certain inner-city communities [who do scamming]," he said. "But a lot of people involved now are educated and come from good backgrounds. You would be surprised who are some of these criminals and who are washing money in certain businesses."

Marcus said he grew up in a middle-class Kingston household, attending traditional schools before eventually studying engineering. His move uptown was partly about lifestyle, but also about privacy.

"In communities like this, people mind their business," he explained. "Nobody cares if I show up in a full suit of gold. Nobody is watching you like that."

According to Marcus, modern scamming operations often revolve around teams using multiple phones, laptops, and Internet-based communication tools to contact victims overseas. He declined to go into specific tactics but admitted that technology plays a major role.

"The real skill lies in reading human behaviour and creating a version of reality that someone is willing to accept."

Marcus also acknowledged that the lifestyle associated with scamming - expensive cars, luxury apartments, and designer clothing - is what attracts many young Jamaicans.

Despite the financial gains, Marcus said he is aware that the lifestyle comes with significant risks.

"But honestly, I don't lose sleep over it. Everybody out here is trying to survive in their own way."

The Jamaican authorities have intensified operations against lottery-scamming networks in recent years, resulting in numerous arrests and prosecutions. Despite the crackdown, the authorities say the illicit trade continues to attract participants, particularly young Jamaicans drawn by the promise of quick wealth and the lavish lifestyles often associated with the activity.

Still, Marcus believes the practice continues to evolve. "The game changes all the time," he said.

While he does not publicly advertise what he does for a living, Marcus admitted that those close to him are aware that he no longer works as a civil engineer.

When asked whether he regrets leaving the profession he once trained for, he said.

"Sometimes," he said quietly. "But once you step into this world, it's hard to step back."

* Name changed to protect identity