United States visa lottery posts on social media are fake, says Embassy

United States Embassy in Nigeria on Friday said the visa lottery opportunities being circulated on social media are fake.

“The U.S. Mission to Nigeria is aware of websites and messages advertising the U.S. visa lottery,” the US Embassy in Nigeria said. All of these sites are FAKE!”

The Embassy said the only accurate information on the visa lottery is available at ng.usembassy.gov and travel.state.gov.

US Embassy in Nigeria clarified that web addresses that have a “.gov are the only accurate source of visa information.”

A viral post from social media platforms on a purported US Visa lottery opening for 2021 was widely distributed on Whatsapp private messages and group chats.

The posts urged Nigerians and other recipients to “take the chance of living in the USA and apply for the official US Green Card Lottery.”

Although dispelled as fake, the post says “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.

“Every year, the United States grants 55,000 Green Cards through the Green Card Lottery!,” the false post claimed.