Internet Visa Fraud
August 16, 2009
MUSCAT - Reports of fraudulent emails, websites, and print advertisements offering visa services are on the rise. The U.S. Embassy in Muscat reminds both citizens and residents of Oman to use caution when working with non-government entities to apply for a visa to the United States.
Many non-government websites offer legitimate services to assist individuals in applying for a visa, but some illegitimate entities claim to provide “visa services” as a cover for scams or identity theft. Some websites may attempt to require you to pay for services such as forms and information about immigration procedures, which are otherwise free on the Department of State www.state.gov and travel.state.gov websites, or overseas through the Embassy website under the Consular Section.
Persons looking to apply for a visa should use caution before deciding to send personal information such as credit card and bank account numbers. It is important to verify that the company used is a trusted business, since bogus companies can use this information to steal your identity.
Websites or emails from businesses engaged in fraud often claim that they can send an applicant’s residency or travel documents either through the mail or online. Most visa procedures require applicants to hand deliver their application and travel documents to a U.S. embassy or consulate and to interview with a consular officer. The only visa application process that is available online is the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery. The only official way to apply for the DV lottery is directly through the official U.S. Department of State Website during the specified and limited-time registration period.
The Diversity Visa Lottery is a program that offers up to 55,000 visa slots for people looking to immigrate to the United States. Only one submission is allowed per person, and multiple entries will result in disqualification. A husband and wife may file separate applications. If one spouse is successful in the lottery, the other can enter the country with him or her. Applicants selected in the Diversity Visa random drawing are notified by the Department of State, Kentucky Consular Center by letter, not email, and are provided with instructions on how to proceed to the next step in the process. No other organization or private company is authorized by the Department of State to notify Diversity Visa lottery applicants of their winning entry, or the next steps in the process of applying for their visa.
Official government websites are more than the design; images of U.S. emblems like flags, eagles, monuments, or official seals do not necessarily indicate a government website. A domain name of “.gov” ensures that a website is a legitimate government site where the information is free and up to date.
Complaints regarding internet fraud can be filed with the Federal Trade Commission on their website www.econsumer.gov/english, or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov/default.aspx. Complaints about unwanted emails that may be scams can be sent to the Department of Justice www.usdoj.gov/spam.htm.
