Confessed scammer says he was touched by Jesus

Aconfessed lottery scammer who hails from Montego Bay is claiming that he was visited by Jesus Christ during a prayer session a few days ago.

Almost similar to the biblical story told in Acts 9 about Saul’s encounter with the Almighty, while he was on his Damascus journey. Thio Barrett said the Lord spoke to him and told him to move away from the direction in which he was heading.

“I was praying and asking Jesus to change my life because I know deep down that this wasn’t the way I wanted my life to go. Mi nah go tell no lie say mi pray every night, because praying is not something mi always do. A couple minutes into the prayer, mi body start feel different and mi actually feel when mi leave mi body and travel go somewhere else,” he told THE STAR.

The 24-year-old man said while his spirit was separated from his body of flesh and bones, Jesus gave him a few words of advice.

“Mi find myself bowing down to this man. The man had a gold crown on his head. It was a white man, and him touch mi on my head. Him then tell mi say that the life I am living was not what he made me for and that I should change before it is too late. When mi come back to myself, mi realise say mi right fist closed tight,” Barrett said.

OVERWHELMED WITH GUILT

Barrett said he has been involved in lottery scamming from 2011 and stated that while the illegal activity has raked in the cash, he is overwhelmed with guilt.

He added that it was while repenting of his sins and asking for a change, that Jesus came to him.

“Scamming isn’t really my thing. Mi nah go tell no lie, mi achieve a lot of things from it but mi really nuh happy. Mi honestly start feel some form of guilt now. I don’t feel comfortable doing it anymore. Growing up, I always had dreams of becoming an entertainer and I may just venture into that field,” he said.

Lottery scamming remains prevalent in St James and other parishes. One of the most frequently used tactics is to lead victims to believe they have won a draw or lottery, but that they cannot claim any cash or prize without first releasing upfront payment of fees and taxes.

Scammers frequently target the elderly or those with disposable income.

Barrett told THE STAR that although he does not intend to get baptised soon, he has a new outlook on life and his faith.

“Mi nah go baptise still, well not yet. But mi a go change mi ways and focus on other goals,” he said.