DV Lottery Fraud

[Tee and Megan 10]

Hello all!

I recently returned from Cambodia (visiting my fiance and his family) and during my time there, had dinner with a couple (family friends of ours) from Chhouk, Cambodia who had received notice from an insurance company in Phnom Penh that they had been selected to participate in the DV lottery this year.

They, like many Cambodians, don't have access to a computer, so they apparently filled out the forms for the DV Lottery and sent them in with a friend. This was in 2008.

Now the insurance company has given them all the forms and they need to respond within a certain time or they lose their case.

On the one hand, I am so excited for them, because if this is real, it could mean a whole new life for them. On the other hand, I am suspicious for the following reasons:

1. None of the research I have been able to uncover suggests the U.S. Government keeps the DVLottery applicants' information past two years. They applied 4 years ago.

2. They were told they needed to find someone to sponsor them, to fill out the Affidavit of Support. I haven't heard of anyone applying to the DV Lottery who needs to find a sponsor.

3. If they proceed with the process, the insurance company providing the information says they need to pay some kind of "commission."

Does anyone know anything about this sort of situation? Does one need to provide an Affidavit of Support for the DV Lottery?

Any information anyone could provide would mean the world to us. I don't want my friends to get scammed. Please help!

Blessings

Megan

[atm 8]

I would suggest calling USCIS at 1-800-375-5283.

I got a green card through the DV lottery in 2005, and I used a company that undertook to enter my name every year for 5 years (I think). I won the first year, but thought it may be a scam (I did not know that I could have just entered on my own via mail - it was not online 10 years ago). I called USCIS and gave my name and asked if my name had been selected. If you do the same, and if your name is has been selected, the call center will give you a number, and then your case will be processed according to your number in the queue. I explained to them that I thought it might be a scam. Luckily it was not!

I do not remember about the affadavit of support, I did not have one. The part about paying a commission seems entirely suspicious though.

Good luck!

Edited June 24, 2013 by atm

[atm 8]

I got a green card through the DV lottery in 2005, and I used a company that undertook to enter my name every year for 5 years (I think). I won the first year, but thought it may be a scam (I did not know that I could have just entered on my own via mail - it was not online 10 years ago). I called USCIS and gave my name and asked if my name had been selected. If you do the same, and if your name is has been selected, the call center will give you a number, and then your case will be processed according to your number in the queue. I explained to them that I thought it might be a scam. Luckily it was not!

I do not remember about the affadavit of support, I did not have one. The part about paying a commission seems entirely suspicious though.

I just checked the DV website, and it seems there is an "Entrant Status Check" (https://www.dvlottery.state.gov/) so your friends may be able to check online if they were selected for the 2013 DV lottery. To use this you need a confirmation number (which should have been given to you when you entered). Failing that, there is a "Forgot confirmation number" option, but you still need the email you used when applying. If your friends don't have that information, they should call USCIS at 1-800-375-5283

Good luck!

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

First question is are your friends eligible? They have to have birth connections (they seem ok there ) to a qualifying country and meet the educational/work requirement.

[milimelo 4,477]

They only started with the confirmation numbers couple of years ago - so an entry from 2008 wouldn't have it.

If friends know they haven't applied for DV last year (October-November period) there is nothing they can do. The entry from 2008 is void as that fiscal year has long passed.

And yes, in some countries IOs can and do ask for an affidavit of support.