Members of the Nigerian public were on Friday alerted to the sharp practices of fraudsters, who send false e-mails and text messages of people winning the Diversity Visa Lottery to the US in recent times.


This was made known at a news conference at the United States Information Service in Lagos by the vice-consul of the US Consulate General, Charity Boyette.


Boyette said, ‘‘Over the past two weeks, I have received several e-mails from fraudsters supposedly based in the United Kingdom congratulating false winners of the US DV lottery.”


Each year, many Nigerians are issued immigrant visas through the US visa lottery programme, which entitles them to apply for entry visas, which when once admitted, gives them permanent residency.”


Disclaiming ownership of the e-mail messages, Boyette said, “Once a person wins a DV visa lottery to the US, it is up to that person to sort out employment and accommodation issues in the US. Winners of the lottery are no longer notified by letter.”


Explaining that DV lottery winners were usually notified through the DV lottery web site, Boyette said, “Interested applicants should enter their name and scan their photograph on the web site. Winners of the DV 2012 lottery will also be notified through the same web site in May.


“Just go to our website and enter your confirmation number. If you have won the lottery, you will receive information as to how to proceed. We no longer send out any letter to individuals’ addresses,” she said.


She that victims were being asked to pay fees through the Western Union. “Please you do not need to send the money to the UK as the scam e-mail says to process your application. That is untrue; you can only pay for the DV lottery at the time of interview inside the consulate to the consulate cashier,” she said.
http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201102055335276

Thanx for dis info
A friend of mine was about to fall into their hands. But when i have any doubting mind about an issue, i usually consult nairaland search to find out, i know something must have discussed about the issue.

see a mail sent by the fraudsters below
We wish to notify you that you have been selected as one of the Diversity Visa (DV) Program winner for receiving a United States
Permanent Resident Card. It is also known as the Green Card Lottery. The lottery has been administered on an annual basis
by the Department of State and conducted under the terms of Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
Section 131 of the Immigration Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-649) amended INA 203 to provide for a new class of immigrants known
as "diversity immigrants" (DV immigrants).
As part of the agreement we will issue A FREE Airline ticket from your country to the USA to claim your Green Card under
the American Green Card Lottery Program. The ticket will be sent via post mail at your address registered with us once your visa
will be remitted by the U.S department of State.
The U.S Department of State will should contact you soon with visa processing information and how to proceed further.

If you have any question regarding the visa please contact the U.S Department of State directly as we do not have any competency to discuss further details with you.
What should you do now ?
Wait for the U.S Department of State to contact you and give you the information about visa processing and how to proceed further .


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Costumer Service Team

The USAFIS Organization


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