The Region - News from May 23, 1985

Police warned residents of South Los Angeles to beware of an elaborate fraud scheme involving suspects who feign a Jamaican or other foreign accent and pretend to be worried about holding money in a big city. The so-called “Jamaican Switch” is usually aimed at elderly people, Detective Dennis Adams of the Police Department’s bunco team said. The scheme usually starts with an individual who fakes an accent approaching a victim and expressing worry over keeping his money safe. A second person, who pretends not to know the first, then enters and joins the conversation. The victim finally is persuaded to hand over his or her money along with the first person’s for mutual safe keeping. The target is then distracted while the other two switch parcels, and the victim winds up with an empty sack.