Warning: DV Fraud
The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and U.S. Consulate General in Lagos continue to hear from Nigerian citizens who have received fraudulent e-mails from people claiming to be affiliated with the U.S. Department of State and its Diversity Visa (DV) program. These messages congratulate the recipient for winning the DV lottery, and instruct him or her to send payment for the visa fees to a U.S. Embassy or via Western Union. These messages do not originate from the U.S. Government, and are part of a scam.
No organization or company outside of the U.S. Government is authorized by the Department of State to notify DV applicants of their winning entry, or of the next steps in the visa process. Entrants will never be asked to send money by mail or Western Union at any point in the application process.
Entrants can check their true DV lottery status at http://www.dvlottery.state.gov, and can e-mail KCCDV@state.gov or LagosIV@state.gov for more information about the DV program.”