1

The Negative Impacts of Scamming

Elton A. Hunter, Moneta M. Felis, Iyana B. Gordon, and Shawnae A. Meggie

Department of General Studies & Behavioural Sciences, University of the Commonwealth

Caribbean

ENG002: English for Academic Purposes: Exposition

Ms. Shalieka Burris

December 2, 2021
 “Pleasant good afternoon, this is Mr. Parker calling you from the mega-millionaire

sweepstakes and I call you pertaining to tell you that you are the lucky one winner of 2.5million

dollars” are lyrics from the song made by the Jamaican artiste Innovata. This is a popular song

that has taken the airwaves within our society which has shed light on the extent to which

scamming has plagued Jamaica. In 2014, Damion Barrett, was the first Jamaican extradited to the

United States of America in lieu of 37 of fraud charges laid against him regarding lottery

scamming (“Jamaican Man First”, 2015). Recently, there has been an upsurge in lottery

scamming across the world which has had damming impacts on society. Three negative impacts

of scamming are that it contributes to the increase of crime and violence, it has psychological

effects on victims, and it creates stigma against an individual’s country.

Firstly, one negative impact of scamming is that it contributes to the increase of crime

and violence. The increase of scamming in society has led to several deaths across Jamaica.

There was a recent news report where several members of a family were killed at their home in

relation to an alleged lottery scamming scheme gone wrong (Quadruple Murder, 2021).

Similarly, further reports identified that seven persons died as a result of an ongoing lottery

scamming feud in Westmoreland (Police Link, 2018). Individuals have decided to engage in the

unscrupulous activity of scamming and when one party feels as though they have been treated

unfairly, they commit crimes against the other party or loved ones. Additionally, indications are

that there has been an upsurge in the murder rate by 18% in Jamaica due to lottery scamming

(Lottery Scam, 2015). These reports have therefore illustrated the increase in crime and violence

due to scamming in society.

Secondly, scamming has negative psychological effects on victims. A large cross section

of victims has experienced symptoms of trauma because of their involvement in a scam (Lees,
2020). Likewise, it is posited that some victims experience a loss of self-esteem, and they tend to

blame themselves for falling into a trap (Button & Cross, 2017). This suggests that there may be

lasting emotional impacts that may affect the day-to-day functioning of victims. Some victims

have been manipulated by their perpetrators after developing an intimate connection which has

led them to develop insecurities (Whitty & Buchanan, 2015). Experiencing loss can be rather

grievous to persons who have suffered the same, no matter how trivial it may seem to an

onlooker.

Thirdly, scamming creates stigma to one’s country in that the increased reports on the

news have resulted in other countries dissuading travellers from visiting certain areas known to

have a significant probability rate of being scammed. Reportedly, the Vietnamese tourism

industry lost revenue because tourists have been deterred from the country due to scamming

(Phong, 2019). Comparably, it was outlined that Jamaica’s reputation has been trampled by the

effects of scamming (Taylor, 2013). Lottery scamming dishonours countries which is detrimental

to the upliftment of their business sector and wider country. Reportedly, the thriving and

seemingly very lucrative lottery scamming business has shed a negative light to Jamaica’s image

worldwide (Campbell, 2021). This highlights how damaging scamming can be on a country’s

future.

To conclude, scamming is an illicit activity that attracts would-be criminals from all

walks of life. The increase of crime and violence, psychological effects on victims and the stigma

created within an individual’s country are three negative impacts of scamming. Additionally, this

illegal activity contributes to negative publicity which will result in loss of revenues that are

generated by the tourist sector.

 References

Innovata. (2020). Mr. Parker [Song]. On Mr. Parker. Akam Entertainment.

https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/Quadruple_murder_in_Clarendon

Button, M., & Cross, C. (2017). Not a victimless crime. In Cyber frauds, scams and their

victims (p. 92). Taylor & Francis.

Campbell, E. (2021, May 4). Jamaican reputation for scamming urges serious US action. The

Gleaner. https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/esponsored/20210504/jamaican-reputation-

scamming-urges-serious-us-action

Jamaican man first to be extradited to face fraud charges in lottery scam. (2015, February

17). ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/jamaican-man-first-be-extradited-face-fraud-charges-

lottery-scam

The Economist Intelligence Unit. (2015, July 7). Lottery scam behind rising murders.

Country, industry and risk analysis from The Economist Intelligence Unit - List of

countries - The Economist Intelligence Unit.

https://country.eiu.com/article.aspx?articleid=1903321774&Country=Jamaica&topic=Pol

itics&subtopic=_7

Lees, C. (2020, December 8). Online scams and mental health - Money and mental

health. Money and Mental Health Policy Institute.

https://www.moneyandmentalhealth.org/online-scams-mental-health/

Phong, H. (2019, October 1). Hassles, scams tarnish HCMC tourism reputation. VnExpress
 International – Latest news, business, travel and analysis from Vietnam.

https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/places/hassles-scams-tarnish-hcmc-tourism-

reputation-3990149.html

Quadruple murder in Clarendon. (2021, September 12). Jamaica Observer.

https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/Quadruple_murder_in_Clarendon

Taylor, O. (2013, March 24). Lotto scam: Slow government. The Gleaner.

https://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130324/focus/focus6.html

UPDATE: Police link Westmoreland killing spree to lottery scamming. (2018, May 2). Jamaica

Observer. https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/UPDATE:_Police_link_Westmo

reland_murder_rampage_to_lottery_scamming?profile=1228

Whitty, M. T., & Buchanan, T. (2015). The online dating romance scam: The psychological

impact on victims – both financial and non-financial. Criminology & Criminal Justice,

16(2), 176-194. https://doi.org/10.1177/1748895815603773