A Crime of Opportunity: An Analysis of the Jamaican Lottery Scam Mikol A. Mortley 1 Kingston 5, Jamaica Abstract: Jamaica is known as a popular Caribbean destination, where millions of tourists visit its shores. However, Jamaica also has the reputation of being heavily indebted and violent. Now infamous for “Lottery Scamming” a type of advanced fee fraud, where scammers swindle victims out of millions of dollars and use the money to fund lavish lifestyles. The objectives of this study are to highlight alternative views of lottery scamming, as a result of years of socioeconomic depression and turmoil and not just a crime. The study presents a background investigation into lottery scamming, the motivations and causes. The study also highlights scenarios used by scammers to swindle their victims. The analysis uses a combination of criminological theories and economic perspectives. Preliminary results show that many people enter into lottery scamming by an intercommunity snowballing effect. Other results indicate that lottery scamming’s existence and promulgation is indicative of the geography and employment patterns of Montego Bay. Other views suggest that participation in lottery scamming is as a result of circumstance and people engage in lottery scamming initially based on the need to survive. Other related criminal activities such as murder and gang violence have economic underpinnings, and therefore strategies to fight crime must view the issue holistically. JEL Classification: J42 Keywords: Crime, Fraud, 1 Mikol Mortley is an Economist and Senior Financial Projects Analyst at Mayberry Investments Limited in Kingston Jamaica. Specials thanks to Dr. Christine Clarke-Doughtery and Professor Claremont Kirton for assistance and comment.