Cuban scammers

[zack]

I just received a strange letter from a woman in Cuba who claims to be a member of the Baptist Church in Jobabo in the Las Tunas province. She claims to be a devoted christian who is trying to immigrate to the USA with four other "sisters" and two children. She has decided to participate in "the raffle of visas that is taking place in the USA" and asked if I would donate $800.00 per person to help pay for the process. She promised to pay me back when she arrives here because "before God we keep our word."

I laughed out loud when I read this letter. Of course I won't be sending a dime. Has anyone else received similar letters?

Zack

[Hamlet]

... in response to Cuban scammers, posted by zack on Nov 2, 2003

She is likely referring to the visa lottery, where the US gives several thousand visas to Cubans each year.

There is no fee to apply for the visa lottery.  I know this because I mailed in some applications last year for some Cuban friends.

[NW Jim]

... in response to Re: Cuban scammers, posted by Hamlet on Nov 2, 2003

You're right there's no fee! Citizens of several latin American countries are not eligible. See link below. This whole program is a bastardization of the immigration process anyway. We need educated immigrants, not lucky ones.

http://www.travel.state.gov/dv2005.html

[zack]

... in response to Re: Re: Cuban scammers.., posted by NW Jim on Nov 3, 2003

I can't believe that there actually is a visa lottery. I thought that she made that up.

That website states that a high school education is required OR two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience to perform.

I doesn't say anything about restrictions regarding criminal history.

So a person with no high school education and a criminal history can win his way into this country??

Zack