More Immigration Fraud VIII

OK - we've covered the fraud that occurs when people they are told that they won the DV lottery.  As we have seen, this fraud involves the fraudster either charging the DV player that there is some kind of entrance fee to play in the first place, or telling the DV player AFTER they won that they need to pay some kind of fee.  And, of course, the most cruel of all, telling the DV player that he won (when he actually did not) and collects a fee anyway. 

     The moral of this story, of course, is that the only correct source of information is the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the player's country and, by derivation, the United States Department of State or a qualified United States Immigration attorney.  Every other source of information should be suspect.

     Remember - the DV lottery is like any other lottery in that the chances of winning are slim.  But, that does not mean you should not play.  If a third party is offering something for a fee (other than a qualified U.S. Immigration lawyer), something is wrong.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

More Immigration Fraud VII

A final example of fraud involving the DV lottery.

     Winners have to process their applications through the U.S. Embassy in their home country (unless the DV winners are re-routed to another embassy or if the U.S. does not have diplomatic relations with the winning country, they are re-routed to another embassy that is close to the country).

    Certain "services" will offer to process the application through the embassy (for a fee of course).  These services are invariably bogus - remember, all DV processing goes through the United States Department of State (through the U.S. embassy in the person's country).  The ONLY fees are through the Department of State and other fees will NOT be assessed.

    Note, by the way, that this is not the same thing as legitimate Immigration attorneys offering their services to DV winners.  Even with the State Department handling DV winners, sometimes the results can be confusing.  Legitmate Immigration attorneys (licensed in the U.S.) will offer their services and can be of help.  This is NOT the same thing as fraudsters offering bogus services that are not needed.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

More Immigration Fraud VI

In one respect, the fraud committed upon DV lottery participants is common to all immigration fraud  - people are being taken advantage of when they are most vulnerable.

     Moving to another country to start a new life does not happen because someone is bored or has nothing better to do with his time.  When someone decides they want to move to another country, permanently, it is usually because life in their own country has become intolerable.  Moving to a new country means learning a new way of life, adapting to new customs and sometimes learning a new language.  It is not easy.

     For DV lottery participants, it is even harder.  Usually people who enter the DV lottery have no other way of immigrating to the U.S.  They are placing their hopes and dreams in one place.  When they are told they won, therefore, even if it from a source that might seem strange (for example, from a website that is not linked to the U.S. Embassy), they are willing to suspend their disbelief.  Fraudsters are experts at playing on peoples' emotions, especially when they are hoping beyond hope.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

More Immigration Fraud V

Another issue with the DV lottery that occurs is when the people who play the lottery receive false news that they have "won."

     Unfortunately, many people will advertise that they played the DV lottery.  There are always fraudsters who will wait in the wings, take down the information of the people who played the lottery and then send them a notice that they "won."  In the age of the Internet, of course, this is much easier to accomplish.

     These fraudsters will send a notice to the players that they "won."  Of course, the person receiving this information is also told that they must pay a "fee" to ensure that they can collect their winnings (or, in this case, to get the "Green Card."  The person will send in the fee to the fraudsters, and then of course be left with nothing.

     Remember, the only guaranteed sources of information on the DV lottery, or any immigration program for that matter, is from the USCIS, United States Department of State, or a qualified U.S. Immigration attorney.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

More Immigration Fraud IV

OK - re-read the description of the DV lottery again if you have the chance.  Notice that the individuals who are eligible to play the DV lottery are individuals from countries that have been historically under-represented in the United States.  This means that for citizens of countries such as Mexico and other countries (some of which come and go off the list), they are not eligible for the DV lottery.

     So, another type of fraud which unfortunately occurs in these matters is for citizens of countries like Mexico, which are unable to enter the DV lottery, to be offered chances to play.  Of course, these "opportunities" come with the required "entrance fee" which, as we discussed, is not required for lottery players.

     So, once again, it is important to get the sources of information regarding the DV lottery, and all immigration materials for that matter, from the appropriate U.S. agencies only or from a qualified Immigration Attorney who practices law in the United States (or an Immigration Attorney who has passed the bar of a state in the United States and resides outside the United States).  The two main recognized sources for Immigration Law from United States authorities are:

1.  The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services ("USCIS")
2.  The United States Department of State

    Be very careful about accepting any advice from other sources. 

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

More Immigration Fraud III

OK - so we have read up on the Diversity Lottery.  It is a way for peoples who have been historically underrepresented in the United States to get Lawful Permanent Residence (aka "Green Card") in the U.S.  Normally, this is done through employment based immigration or family based immigration.  This is another way to get a Green Card.  Interestingly enough, I used to work at this program when I was stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and personally, I have known a few winners of this lottery as well (and they are few and far between).

     So, how is this unique program subject to fraud?  Well, one of the easiest examples is that fraudsters will go online and charge people "registration fees" for this lottery.  Even worse, some people are charged "lifetime registration fees."

     As a cursory reading of the DV lottery suggests, there is no fee to enter this lottery.  The only fees and expenses are after the person wins.  Anyone who is charging a fee to "enter" someone in this lottery, therefore, is scamming people.  And, unfortunately, as we will see, this is only the tip of the iceberg.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

More Immigration Fraud II

Before we talk about fraud in the Diversity Lottery, let' s define what it is.  Our old pal Wikipedia is up to the task:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diversity_Immigrant_Visa

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

More Immigration fraud I

OK - back to a thread.

     I have posted before about Immigration fraud.  For the next few posts, we will be discussing a very specific type of Immigration fraud - diversity visa fraud.

    This type of fraud is directed towards people who enter the Diversity Lottery in hopes of getting Lawful Permanent Residence in the U.S. (aka a "Green Card").   As with all lotteries, the chances of winning are slim, but like all lotteries, if you don't play, your chances of winning is zero.

     So, let's spend some time talking about scammers who prey upon people who are trying to get to the U.S. in a very unlikely way.  The rules for the Green Card lottery are straightforward and they don't cost anything for people who wish to participate.

     However, where people are trying to hope for the best, there are always thos who will try and scam money from them.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk