Talking $cam

2006: "When a person commits e-fraud, it is murder. It is the murder of someone's identity … . While there is no blood, no body, and no bullets, it really amounts to sucking away someone's life blood." - Lynda Langford, former country operations manager at Affiliated Computer Service

2007: "The scam is a multimillion-dollar industry which is fuelling money into the criminal underworld. The money is being used to buy high-powered guns and expensive cars, which have made this new generation of criminals highly mobile." - Asst Commissioner of Police Denver Frater

2011: "Several of the persons who have been arrested for their involvement in the lotto scam will be extradited to the United States to stand trial." - Senior Superintendent Linnette Martin-Williams, former head of the St James Police Division

2011: "Many of the lottery scammers are well known. Why is it that everytime a lottery scammer is dubbed a major player … that person is back on the streets or charged with some little fool-fool offence?" - Lloyd B. Smith, member of parliament for Central St James.

2012: "If we can't make some real dents in what is going on now, certainly, your whole call centre is going to be threatened, and 10,000 or so jobs. Once you get that international reputation, you are going to find there is going to be a negative impact on the economy." - Peter Bunting, minister of national security

2012: "This kind of criminal activity must be recognised as such and dealt with by the full force of the law. The legislative changes must be swift and decisive and seek to permanently stamp out this kind of illegal activity, which is tantamount to robbery." -Davon Crump, president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry

2012: "If the lottery scam - which, based on the last figures, was bringing in in excess of US$300 million annually - is left unabated, it could have serious impact on commerce and trade and our ability to do business overseas … . If this continues, we could be blacklisted by the United States of America." - Fitz Bailey, head of Organised Crime Investigation Division