State Department Email Scam Targets Visa Seekers

A nationally recognized reporter, writer, and consumer advocate, Ed Perkins focuses on how travelers can find the best deals and avoid scams.

He is the author of "Online Travel" (2000) and "Business Travel: When It's Your Money" (2004), the first step-by-step guide specifically written for small business and self-employed professional travelers. He was also the co-author of the annual "Best Travel Deals" series from Consumers Union.

Perkins' advice for business travelers is featured on MyBusinessTravel.com, a website devoted to helping small business and self-employed professional travelers find the best value for their travel dollars.

Perkins was founding editor of Consumer Reports Travel Letter, one of the country's most influential travel publications, from which he retired in 1998. He has also written for Business Traveller magazine (London).

Perkins' travel expertise has led to frequent television appearances, including ABC's "Good Morning America" and "This Week with David Brinkley," "The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather," CNN, and numerous local TV and radio stations.

Before editing Consumer Reports Travel Letter, Perkins spent 25 years in travel research and consulting with assignments ranging from national tourism development strategies to the design of computer-based tourism models.

Born in Evanston, Illinois, Perkins lives in Ashland, Oregon with his wife.

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If you get an email from the “U.S. Department of State, Immigration Department” that you’ve been accepted in the DV program, delete it without opening or clicking on the link. It’s a scam.

At this point, we don’t know if this particular invitation contains a virus or is simply phishing (in fact, many who receive it really don’t quite know what the DV program is), but in any event, it’s phony and targets persons trying to get a Diversity Immigrant Visa. The State department posts a warning about this fraud, which you should check if you’re seeking a visa and ignore if you’re a citizen.

This email brings up the larger problem of current computer frauds, some aimed at travelers, others aimed at anybody who bites. Another common one going around is a phone call telling you that your computer is having problems but the caller can fix it. At best, you’ll be out their charge to “fix” your computer; at worst, your computer will play host to a Trojan horse virus that will be extremely difficult to remove.

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