Diversity Visa Fraud
Tirana, February 22, 2011 NOA - U.S. Embassy Tirana warns of Diversity Visa (DV) fraud attempts.
If you have received an email notifying you that your application for the DV Program has been successful, and that you are now required to send money to a named individual or business, you could become a victim of a scam if you respond.
In previous years, successful DV applicants were notified by the Department of State, Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) by letter—not email—and were provided instructions on how to proceed to the next step in the process.
The Kentucky Consular Center will never ask you to send money. If you have applied for DV-2012, official notification of selection will be made on line through the Entry Status Check, which will be available beginning on May 1, 2011 on the E-DV website at http://www.dvlottery.state.gov/.
This is the ONLY way in which you will receive notification of the status of your entry. If you are selected, you should then respond to the notification instructions made available to you via Entry Status Check.
Processing will then begin on your case. At this point, you may receive follow-up e-mail communication directly from the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) informing you to review Entry Status Check for new information about your application.
But the KCC will never inform you before this point, and it will never ask you to send money. If you receive an email that appears to be a fraudulent DV notification, we ask that you send it to our email address at TiranaUSConsulate@state.gov. Please review the Department of State Warning available at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1749.html on DV fraud scams and the Federal Trade Commission Warning available at: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt003.shtm
