Kenyan Creator Warns of Fake Green Card Email Scam

A Kenyan digital creator has warned social media users about a fraudulent email claiming he had won a US Green Card despite never entering the Diversity Visa Lottery.

Eric Mboya shared the warning on Facebook after receiving an email containing a PDF attachment and instructions to open it. He advised users not to open similar attachments, saying they could contain malware or lead recipients to fraudulent websites designed to collect personal information.

Mboya said the sender's email address was one of the clearest signs that the message was fraudulent. He noted that the email did not come from a US government domain and reminded his followers that official US government websites and email addresses use the .gov domain rather than free email services such as Gmail.

"I received this email that nimeshinda Green Card. But I never applied for one, and I have never been interested," Mboya wrote. He warned recipients not to open the attached PDF, saying, "Hapo ndio kuna maneno. Ukipata such email, usifungue PDF."

The Diversity Visa programme, commonly known as the Green Card Lottery, is a legitimate programme administered by the US Department of State. For the DV-2026 cycle, 3,949 Kenyans were selected as potential beneficiaries.

Selection, however, does not guarantee a Green Card. Successful applicants must go through several stages, including medical examinations, embassy interviews and background checks.

The US government does not notify Diversity Visa applicants that they have been selected through email or text messages. Applicants can only confirm their selection through the official DV programme website using their unique confirmation number.

Mboya's post prompted responses from other Kenyans who identified the email as a likely phishing attempt. Some warned that similar scams ask victims to pay processing fees or provide sensitive information, including passport numbers and credit card details.

Others pointed to the fact that the recipient had never entered the lottery as another warning sign, while several commenters described the message as fake.

Applicants are advised that entering the Diversity Visa Lottery is free. Any unsolicited request for payment in connection with a supposed selection should be treated with caution.

Those who are legitimately selected must complete the DS-260 application, submit the required civil documents, undergo a medical examination by an approved doctor and attend an interview at the US Embassy in Nairobi.

For the DV-2026 programme, all eligible visas must be issued by 30 September 2026. The deadline cannot be extended. Users who receive unexpected Green Card notifications should verify the information through official US government channels rather than opening attachments or providing personal or financial information.