June 1, 2005
No. 23/05

Visa Fraud e-Mail Targets Ethiopians: Don’t be a Victim! -- What You Need to Know about the U.S. Diversity Visa Program

Addis Ababa (U.S. Embassy)  – If you receive an e-mail saying you have won the U.S. Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery -- don’t believe it.  That’s the lesson that some Ethiopians are learning the hard way as a result of an e-mail fraud scheme that has recently resurfaced.  Victims receive an e-mail that tells them they have won a U.S. Diversity Visa to immigrate to the United States.  The catch?  They need to rush a “clearance/acceptance fee” along with other information to a U.S. address.  Sadly, the only “winner” is the criminal who sent the e-mail.  Anyone who responds to this fraudulent e-mail is just out of luck, as their wired payment only lines the pocket of the fraudsters.  Applicants who have in fact won the 2006 Lottery will be notified by mail (not by e-mail); all fees relating to the Diversity Visa process are paid in person at the U.S. Embassy.

The United States Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa deplore this scam and the heartless way it plays on people’s hopes of legal immigration to the United States.

Here is what you need to know about participating in the DV Program: 

·        The U.S. Diversity Visa (DV) Program was established to allow up to 55,000 visas a year for applicants in countries under-represented in U.S. immigration patterns.  Ethiopia is among the participating countries. 

·        No fee is required to enter the DV Program. Only successful applicants pay case-processing and application fees and then only after detailed communication from the U.S. Department of State.  All DV fees are paid only in person at the U.S. Embassy.

·        Outside agents, including those using e-mail, have no ability to expedite DV applications, help in “winning” a DV, or otherwise assist applicants at any stage in the DV process.

·        The United States Department of State has never sent an e-mail to announce diversity visa winners and there are no plans to use e-mail for this purpose for the foreseeable future.

·        Applicants selected will be notified by mail between May and July 2005.

·        Persons not selected will not receive any notification.  U.S. Embassies and Consulates will not be able to provide a list of successful applicants.

·        Spouses and unmarried children under age 21 of successful applicants may also apply for visas to accompany or follow to join the principal applicant.

·        DV-2006 visas will be issued between October 1, 2005 and September 30, 2006.

Full information on the Diversity Visa Program is available from the website of the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, at http://ethiopia.usembassy.gov.  Questions about the DV process can be submitted by e-mail to the Embassy’s Consular Section at consaddis@state.gov or by telephone to 24-24-24.

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