Diversity Visa Scam

[Tero 105]

That's right Tero, the funny thing is that already sent the FBI cyber crime department to his front door.

Good job!

[EveJon 0]

I got the e-mail too!! And the funniest thing is that people from Dominican Republic cannot participate in DV!!! My only concern is how they got our info

[Gary & Olga 0]

It really is sad so many people fall for these phisher attacks. There are so many things wrong with the e-mail it’s not funny.

1. Why can’t the scammers learn to capitalize their targets name? What a simple mistake.

2. They use an e-mail address of gov.us.state@usa.com. Glaring problem. Anyone should know the address should end in .gov.

3. They want you to send money to a person! Who is Richard Aspden anyway???

4. Richard Aspden lives in London! Usually the US government does business in the US.

5. They are using Western Union. Oh yes, the scammers best friend.

6. Send the money first. Then fill out the paperwork? Great idea.

7. The US government does business by mail not e-mail.

8. Too many benefits. Health insurance, education benefits, an apartment, guaranteed job, plus family members can go with you. All that for $880!

9. Lots of grammar mistakes.

[newlyweds2010 208]

now I understand. you guys applied to the diversity visa lottery through USAFIS, which used to be very popular in the past years as an agency offering this service of green card application.

That site, as far as I know, is a scam, and even if you do not submit your information because you change your mind they still get what you've typed so far, and use it. phone numbers and emails are their favorites. I read in the past of people receiving phone calls from some dude from USAFIS who wanted money.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Are you all's email public on VJ ?

[Lisamarie 79]

That's kind of creepy how they have the phone number.....

Hello,

My fiancé just received the following scam e-mail and I was wondering if anyone else has received it. I work in IT security and see phishing e-mail all the time. They stick out like a sore thumb to me. But, this one is written better than most. Still, I can find a lot of things wrong with the letter.

Anyone else receive it?

Gary

U.S. Department of State sent this message to olga (lastname snipped) (address snipped@mail.ru)

Your registered name is included to show this message originated from U.S. Department of State. Congratulations, you've won !

Dear olga (lastname snipped) ,

Congratulations ! You are among those randomly selected and registered for further consideration in the diversity immigrant program. Selection guarantees that

you will receive a United States Permanent Resident Card(also known as Green Card or Diversity Visa) only if you follow the instructions for further processing.

Acceptance Date: Saturday 12th of February 2011 08:27:20 PM

Winner Name: olga (lastname snipped)

Country of Birth: Belarus

Phone Number: (snipped but was correct)

Is the Diversity Visa FREE ?

No. There is a big confusion. Only the participation in the Diversity Visa Lottery was free but the winners must pay the visa processing fees.

The fee is used to process your visa related documents and verify your identity.

Fees:

Type of Residence Card StatusAmount (per person)

United States Permanent Resident CardGranted! - Waiting for payment of processing fee $880

Processing feesIncluded

Total$880

INSTRUCTIONS

Please read and follow all the instructions very carefully. With the Diversity Visa (also known as Green Card) you will enjoy all the advantages and benefits of a US permanent resident, including health and education benefits, and employment opportunities along with guidance in your new country, orientation sessions and programs to integrate into mainstream American society. Once received you can use it at any time you want to move in the United States or just travel. The visa must be renewed after 10 years.

Although you will have all the rights that a U.S. citizen has in the United States, without a relative or friend in the United States you may find the relocation difficult and expensive due the lack of experience in the American society. Therefore the U.S. Government helps you with the accommodation and offers you along with each visa Health Insurance (Freedom HSA Direct Individual Health insurance for 1 year), Dwelling(Apartment in any city you prefer, 1 bedroom for 3 months ), a guaranteed job(in the field that you are are currently qualified so you can start working even from the first week you arrive in the United States and get paid as U.S citizen. ) and education (for U.S. Students or Higher Education through EducationUSA. It includes transfer to a U.S college or Univeristy so you can continue your educational study. More details can be found at http://educationusa.state.gov/ .)

We remind you that only the visa processing fee ($880) is mandatory and the visa is guaranteed upon receiving the payment.

Accompanying family members(wife/husband, fiancee, brothers, sisters, children, cousins) may be included in the program and their visas will be provided at the same time with yours so you can travel/move together in the same time. However the fees must be paid per person and each member(e.g wife, brother, parents, children, cousin) must pay $880. There is no discount for children.

Visa Payment processing instructions

The fees must be paid using Western Union money transfer and will be processed by the U.S. embassy in the United Kingdom.

Western Union is a leading provider of International person-to-person money transfer. With more than 150 years experience and 245,000 Agent locations in over 200 countries and territories, Western Union is recognized for sending money quickly, reliably, and safety.

You can send the payment in U.S. dollars or equivalent of your local currency.

Click on the following link to find the nearest Western Union agency and send the fees payment :

Find Western Union Agency

If you are unable to find a Western Union agency near your location, you may ask a relative or friend to pay the fee on your behalf.

After you find a Western Union agency you need to go with cash money, an identity card(e.g passport or national identity card) and send the payment to the U.S. embassy agent address in United Kingdom:

Name : Richard Aspden

Address: 24 Grosvenor Square

London, W1A 2LQ

United Kingdom

The payment must be sent to the above U.S. embassy agent address in United Kingdom because the U.S. Government decided this based on the diplomatic relations with your country.

After you send the payment follow the next steps :

a) Email copy/scan of the Western Union receipt at gov.us.state@usa.com

b) Email at gov.us.state@usa.com with the following details (you can find them on the money transfer receipt):

1) Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN):

2) Exact sender's name on file with Western Union:

3) Exact sender's address on file with Western Union:

4) Exact receiver's name on file with Western Union:

5) Amount sent:

Then wait for the confirmation that the payment was received.

Within 72 hours, you will receive a confirmation via email with your Case Number/Confirmation Number and exact date and time(approx. 2 days) of the final interview. Upon successful interview you will receive your documents and travel information to move in the United States. Under no circumstances your visa status won't be affected by the interview.

Important Notice!

The payment must be sent via Western Union no later than February 27, 2011. You are strongly encouraged not to wait until the last day to pay. Heavy demand may result in system delays.

Under no circumstances can diversity visas be issued or adjustments approved after this date, nor can family members obtain diversity visas to follow-to-join the principal applicant in the U.S. after this date.

The visa processing fee(US$ 880) is mandatory for each person and the U.S. Government doesn't offer any discount, loan or exception.

You have been selected winner of the Diversity Visa lottery so the visa is guaranteed upon receiving the payment fees on time.

A hard copy of this letter will be mailed to your postal address upon receiving the payment fees.

Please be advised that even through you are a winner of Diversity Visa your Case Number/Confirmation Number will be provided only after you send the payment confirmation of the fees. Please do not contact us to ask for the Case Number/Confirmation Number.

If it would be necessary to contact the U.S. Department of state YOU MUST ALWAYS REFER TO YOUR NAME. The email address is gov.us.state@usa.com

[Aztec&Taino 144]

I got the e-mail too!! And the funniest thing is that people from Dominican Republic cannot participate in DV!!! My only concern is how they got our info

Yes, that is the scary part indeed...

[Neonred 3,553]

Yes, my wife got this same e-mail too. Funny thing is she already has her 10 year green card. She is not a registered VJ user so I don't think it is connected directly to VJ. She was concerned and had to show me the e-mail and wanted to know what it means.

Typical, as they are preying on people they can easily fool or confuse.

[Moomin 292]

Out of curiousity I checked out what my options of entering US incase the K1 was denied was and stumbled upon their website, entered info and then cancelled. About a month later, I had a call from a guy claiming he was just checking to see if I had what it took to enter the lottery. He kept talking for well over than half an hour and said he'd get back to me and never did.

I never provided him with anything and never said I wanted to enter the lottery. This was last summer.

[inloveVEN 46]

Hi dont pay attention to this email.

Oír consular web page warn us about this emails

If you win the lottery you will be contacted by Mail to your address

So sorry that someone is tryiing to make money with your dream

[Jen&Barry 0]

My fiance received it today too!! IT IS A SCAM. He deleted it. The US Department of state doesnt send emails to people. They will take your money and run. He is calling the embassy tomorrow to see if it's legitimate. I hope no one falls for this one.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Everyone that receives this email should report it.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1749.html#Report

[Boiler 45,411]

My fiance received it today too!! IT IS A SCAM. He deleted it. The US Department of state doesnt send emails to people. They will take your money and run. He is calling the embassy tomorrow to see if it's legitimate. I hope no one falls for this one.

The first bit I understood.

The second bit I did not.

[Tero 105]

Yes, my wife got this same e-mail too. Funny thing is she already has her 10 year green card. She is not a registered VJ user so I don't think it is connected directly to VJ. She was concerned and had to show me the e-mail and wanted to know what it means.

Typical, as they are preying on people they can easily fool or confuse.

These people are also individuals who probably have gone through your profile on social networks like facebook, tweeter, myspace, tagged, etc. I have seen some people put their full dates of birth, phone numbers and emails on these social network sites and make them easily accessible. Imagine a scammer sending this scam to 200 random profile infos they've gotten. At least 5% are likely to be in a situation of needing that visa and are likely to fall for it.

Edited February 14, 2011 by Tero

[katiemanny 64]

880$ for each person in your family member and no discount for children, these scammers are greedy too, at least give kids discounts LMAO

Within 72 hours, you will receive a confirmation via email with your Case Number/Confirmation Number and exact date and time(approx. 2 days) of the final interview

You would be waiting your entire life for that confirmation of your case number and interview after falling for these predators FUNNY at all

Edited February 28, 2011 by katiemanny