Accessibility links

Breaking News

U.S. Green-Card-Lottery Scam Group Nabbed In Ukraine


Ukrainian investigators in cooperation with American authorities have nabbed a group involved in the U.S. Green Card Lottery scam.

The Ukrainian Interior Ministry said on October 2 that the group used personal data of Ukrainian citizens in the U.S. congressionally mandated annual lottery program, Diversity Immigrant Visa, without their knowledge.

After receiving the lottery results, the group sold the winners' codes to the unknowing winners for up to $12,000 each. Those who were not able to pay had to give up their property for the group.

Accomplices later met the lottery winners in the United States, depriving them of their immigration documents and organizing their employment to low-paid jobs.

The group consisted of 10 people and their office was operating in Ukraine's western city of Ternopil.

Based on the Ukrainian Interior Ministry's statement

  • 16x9 Image

    RFE/RL

    RFE/RL journalists report the news in 27 languages in 23 countries where a free press is banned by the government or not fully established. We provide what many people cannot get locally: uncensored news, responsible discussion, and open debate.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG