A woman fainted on Tuesday after seeing a man she was told had died just before Christmas.

THE STAR was informed that the woman shouted "Jezas Christ yu no dead?" before she collapsed in Spanish Town, St Catherine, upon seeing a garbage collector she was told had fell from a rubbish truck and died.

After she was revived and regained her composure, the woman pointed out that she gave two of the man's colleagues $2,000 each to help with his funeral and nine-night expenses.

"Dem come and tell me dat him dead and dem a collect money fi him nine night, so mi drop down when mi see him," the distraught woman said. "Lawd dem really wicked." By this time the supposedly 'buried' man had made a hasty retreat through the crowd.

While she related her ordeal, other people who gathered said the man is a regular "dead", and it was part of a scam to collect money from persons. "Dat deh bwoy deh dead every year and people still a fall fi di trick. Everybody a turn con man nowadays, so mi affi si di burial order before dem get a cent from me," a taxi driver said.

THE STAR was informed by residents of the area that there were some unscrupulous garbage collectors who approach unsuspected homeowners for money for a variety of things they claim they are going to do. "We have no problem giving the garbage man a money. But I know of persons who are approached by tricksters, who collect money for gifts at holiday times," a concerned resident said. Residents said the practice is common as people have developed a soft spot for garbage collectors.

Meanwhile, the Spanish Town police while saying they have received no official report on the alleged scam, said people must be aware of tricksters especially during the festive season.

-- Edited by Chubblesum (MOD) on Thursday 6th of January 2011 0906 AM