Teenage boys in Montego Bay, St James, have traded in their khaki suits, books and bags for a cellphone and a spot in the town's lucrative and illicit multimillion-dollar lotto scam.

Information reaching The Star is that many youngsters, mainly boys who were either attending primary and secondary level schools in St James, have put their formal education on the back burner, launching out full time in the scamming arena, earning between US$4,000 (J$308,000) to US$10,000 (J$770,000) per week.

Residents from communities 'famous' for their involvement in the illegal act confirmed the rumours.

Requesting to not have her name published Calabaresha* from Granville, St James, said she knew a "gang of boys", none being older than 17, who all quit school after making millions from the scam.

Full-time scamming

"Mi know one (scammer) who stop go school from last year, a full-time scamming him a deal wid now and him a mek crazy money," the resident said. "Him ave how much car pon the road a run as taxi and him finish up him madda house, turn it into a mansion now. All a him friend dem a follow him footstep because them a seh you only go school so you can get a good job and mek money. But, since them a mek millions now dem a seh dem nuh need school no more."

The situation was no different in the other communities. Residents from Flankers said there were numerous instances of young boys, who have stopped attending schools after making 'nuff millions' from the lotto scam, buying cars, bikes and even houses.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Denver Frater, in charge of Area One, said while his team is yet to confirm the situation, it is one that has come to the attention of his office. "It is definitely something that we will be looking into," Frater said. "We have heard about it but we can't confirm it as yet. (However), we are aware that children are involved in the scam and we are investigating this."

Just recently, two youngsters, one of whom told the court he was 18, appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court after being accused of conning a resident of the United States of US$500.

Awash with cash

Since the lotto scam began in 2005, Montego Bay and its communities have been awash with cash and motor vehicles.

The police blamed the scam for the city's crime situation, reporting that billions from the scam is channelled into procuring illegal high-powered firearm for the criminal underworld.

Attempts to get comments from all the schools residents made mention of were unsuccessful. However, one principal said she was unaware of the situation as her boys are turning up for the classes.

*Name changed upon request.