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This article was published 11/6/2012 (3032 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeggers are being warned about a phone fraud that the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre calls The Jamaican Scam.

The government agency has taken nine complaints from Winnipeggers about the scam since the beginning of June, anti-fraud centre spokesman Daniel Williams said Monday.

During the phone scam, the caller says the consumer has won $2.5 million and a brand-new Mercedes-Benz from Reader’s Digest or the Publishers Clearing House, Williams said. The consumer is told he needs to send $199 to $399 by Western Union.

"Usually, the suspect has a fairly heavy Jamaican accent," Williams said, explaining the fraud’s name. "They continue to call until you stop paying."

He said that whenever someone is asked on the phone to send money it’s almost always a scam.

The scam has been going on for many years in North America, but apparently they’ve targeted Winnipeg phone numbers recently, Williams said.

The anti-fraud centre recommends hanging up the phone when receiving such a call because the fraudster often become verbally abusive. If you do learn some details about the scam you’re asked to call the centre, at 1-888-495-8501.