By Cynthia Kanyali
This Facebook post invites interested individuals to apply for the US Diversity Visa Lottery for 2021.
“The Green Card unlocks the door to the United States for thousands of USA fans every year. It allows the lucky Green Card winners permanent residence as well as an unlimited work permit for the USA,” the post states.
It then provides a link to a website, where users can apply for the lottery programme.
A similar post was shared on Facebook as seen here.
Verification
Upon clicking on the link provided, the user is redirected to a page with the notification “Deceptive Site Ahead.” Also, the said link asks applicants to call or WhatsApp on +233557576745.
A further search on WHOIS reveals that the fake website was registered on 21 April 2021, under the domain name visalottery.online in Iceland.
According to the US Department of State — Bureau of Consular Affairs, the US Diversity Visa 2021 applicants will be notified about their interview in accordance with the phased resumption of the visa services framework.
“All DV-2021 diversity visa program applicants must be found eligible for, and obtain, their visa or adjust status by the end of fiscal year 2021 (September 30, 2021),” the agency notes on its website.
The Bureau also posts a fraud warning on the site, advising applicants on relevant links from which to get information pertaining to the lottery programme and cautioning them not to fall prey to various scams.
Similarly, the US Federal Trade Commission has indicated that applicants can only enter the US Diversity Visa Lottery programme via dvlottery.state.gov and therefore invalidates the site with the claim.
Verdict
PesaCheck has looked into a Facebook post inviting applicants for the US Diversity Visa Lottery registration for 2021 and finds it to be a HOAX.
This story was produced by Africa Uncensored in partnership with Code for Africa with support from Deutsche Welle Akademie.
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