Lotto Scam Concerns Heightened as Work-From-Home Regime Exposes Vulnerabilities

Kingston, Jamaica

The ongoing work-from-home (WFH) regime, implemented to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, has raised concerns about the vulnerability of the sector to data breaches and identity theft. According to industry experts, some call centers in Jamaica have been compromised, with employees using their personal devices for work purposes.

Data Security Concerns

“We want to ensure that there are no telephones or other devices in their pockets,” said Crump, CEO of Global Outsourcing Solutions Limited, at a recent cyber security conference in Kingston. “We have to take all necessary precautions to ensure that our data and our clients’ data are not compromised in any way.”

However, Anand Biradar, senior vice-president and head of Caribbean and Latin America at Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS), disagrees with these concerns. He believes that technology and processes can safeguard against unauthorized access.

Safeguarding Against Unauthorized Access

“There are multiple solutions already in place that completely eliminate the possibility of sharing identity information,” said Biradar, who has over 2,400 employees working from home. “If a BPO or its clients have not put measures in place, then vulnerabilities will exist, but a vast majority of global BPOs have all the necessary measures in place to protect their business.”

Hospitality Industry Protocols

The hospitality industry has also implemented protocols to safeguard confidential information on clientele, including the introduction of a data-protection manual.

• Hoteliers have had incidents of fraud being perpetrated by someone trying to use someone else’s credit card on the property.
• However, there have been no reported cases of data information being captured and used outside any hotel property in recent years.

Illicit Lottery Scam Threat

The illicit lottery scam continues to pose a significant threat to national security. The scam, which originated in Jamaica in 2006, has led to widespread violence and murder in the western region of the country.

• Eighty per cent of murders and shootings in the Westmoreland police division are related to the lottery scam.
• Special anti-gang task forces and anti-lottery scamming units have been established to combat the issue, but police sources say that a lack of support from legislators is hindering efforts.

Police Challenges

“We will arrest an individual who has lotto scam paraphernalia in his possession, place him before the court, he pays a fancy attorney, gets a $50,000 fine and then he is back on the road doing the same thing,” said a seasoned crime fighter. “The current law was hastily established, but it’s just another basket given to carry water, so there is very little that the police can do about lotto scamming.”