Fraud Alert - Diversity Visas USA

Beware of emails telling you that you have won the DV lottery and that you have to send money by Western Union to some address in order to process your Visa. These are bogus emails.
Here is one such:

U.S. Department of State Public
communication Division:
2201 C Street NW PA/PL,Rm.2206
Washington, DC 20520 U.S Department of state www.dvlottery.state.gov
2201C Street NW Washington,D.C.20520

Dear Client,

Congratulations ! ! You have been selected as one of the
lucky winners on our internet screening
machine,DV-2004-2005 USA national visa lottery program.


It is our pleasure to congratulate you on your success in
the America DV-2004-2005 VISA LOTTERY GREENCARD Your visa lottery winner's identity is ID-GRN777#4200DV# and the serial net visa passport attached to your case number is SNVPh700IU# .

In this respect,you are directed to forward the following
(a) Your present contact address(for correspondent)
(b) Your recent passport photograph :REGULAR MAIL: You can also send your photo(s) by regular mail. The photo must be between 1 ½ by 1 ½ and 2 by 2 inches (37-50 mm) square, with the applicant's, spouse's, or child's name printed on the back. Please mail the photos to: Immigration Services 211 South St. #334 Philadelphia, PA 19147 United States.


******Preferably for faster delivery and are implored to
make a scanned copy of your recent passport photograph and
send it via online(email) to our immigration service***********.
(c) Clearance/acceptance fees of ($749.67)/($949.67)for
SINGLE /FAMILY SIZE STATUS SHOULD BE SEND THROUGH WESTERN
UNION MONEY TRANSFER THROUGH OUR FINANCE CENTER ON THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION FOR IMMEDIATE CLAIM OF YOUR PAYMENT BY OUR AGENCY.

NAME: ............... CHARLENE SANDRA TAYLOR...............
ZIP CODE /CITY :.. 97437 ELIMIRA..........OREGON..........
COUNTRY: .........USA...................


Kindly ensure that your western Union payment information
are sent to our agency
email(paymentagency_sandrataylor@yahoo.com) as soon as
possible so as to enable us accomplish the processing in
due time for your take off procedure as scheduled on our record.

Details of requirements:
Your present contact address should be forwarded strictly
to our attached network receieving email address for
correspondent:
Alternatvely for faster processing, a scanned copy of your passport photograph should be send via our attached network recieving email
addresses:(paymentagency_sandrataylor@yahoo.com)


A clearance/acceptance fees
payment($749.67)/($949.67)SINGLE /FAMILY SIZE STATUS.: we accept only western union from our past experiences. (creditcard is not acceptable) Your western union money transfer payment information should be forwarded as directed on payment procedures via our attached network recieving email
addresses:(paymentagency_sandrataylor@yahoo.com)


Your payment confirmation shall be sent to you as soon as clarification is done on your payment. Providing the aboverequirements will assure you your visa lottery acknowledgement card and visa lottery security case code which would be sent to your email addresses as provided.

Important notice :Please make sure you report and forward
your lottery visa case code and acknowledgement cardto the
USA embassy in individual country for other necessary
claims as soon as you have been sent all the
necessary migration credentials via our attached courier service on accomplishing all necessary process and payment procedure.

According to the united states code of conduct
andconstitution Vol.176/866 :Act 690SN guiding all
immigration, green card permit agencies if non-response
after 14days on receiving this notification, your winner's status shall reveal no interest and we would inresponse refer your lottery winning code and acknowledgement card back to the USA government/immigration service center.

We shall be anticipating for your response soonest.

NB: THIS YEAR DV-2004-2005 WHICH YOU APPEARED AS ONE OF
THE LUCKY WINNERS IS NOW OVER AND WE HAVE THE DV2005-2006 EXCERCISE IN PROGRESS (SORRY FOR THE LATE RESPONSE).

Thanks.
Sandra Taylor
Online Co-ordinator

CONGRATULATIONS
!!!
Kevin Powell
President

_____________________________________________________________________
For super low premiums, click here http://www.dialdirect.co.za/quote

Things to note:
1) official email from a US Gov't agency will not have an ad at the end like this one.
2) They quote the US Department of State website url just to make them look more credible but this is what the website says about the DV program and who is in charge of processing:
The (DV) program is administered directly from the U.S. Department of State Kentucky Consular Center in Williamsburg, Kentucky. The Kentucky center was established in the year 2000 by the U.S. Department of State to take over administration of the Diversity Visa Lottery program from the National Visa Center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Therefore you should not be sending any money anywhere else and the fact remains that fees are supposed to be paid at the office when you go for your interview because this is how it is done:
A Diversity processing fee is only charged when a winning lottery entrant applies for the Diversity visa. At the time of the visa application at a U.S. consular office, each applicant (the DV entrant and any accompanying family members) will be charged a DV processing fee and immigrant visa fee.
3) They say it's the "DV 2005-2006" program when in fact the website will show that the actual name for the program is not this.

Here is what the actual US Department of State site says about selection:
SELECTION OF APPLICANTS

Applicants will be selected at random by computer from among all qualified entries. Those selected will be notified by mail between May and July 2005 and will be provided further instructions, including information on fees connected with immigration to the U.S.
(http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1318.html)

Why I won't go back ....Part 1: Ferreira Optical

On the surface, things are quite pleasant at Ferreira's. The customer service personnel are somewhat friendly, if not completely efficient and you even get Magna points on your payments.
The first thing that turned me off:
The customer service agent spent literally almost an hour adjusting and re-adjusting the frame of my glasses which had previously felt fine to me. You'd think it would fit perfectly afterwards right? Wrong! After wearing it for just a few hours, the back of my ears was sore from too much pressure from the frame. I tried not pressing it down when I put it on, but this did not make a difference. I had to endure that discomfort for as long as it took me to get to an office and get another person to re-adjust it for me. This one wanted to show off his knowledge so he made a point about telling me the biological name of the tissue that the frame was pressing on...he managed to alleviate some of my distress (with his adjustments) so it felt a little better, but it turns out that it was not completely perfect so I had to end up doing some of my own bending and twisting to get the frame to fit without causing me headaches.

Second issue:
I paid a lot extra for my lenses because they at Ferreira's did not have the inexpensive coating that did the same job that transitions lens does. I also paid for anti-reflective coating which managed to crack all over my lens after just a few months making it look extremely scratched. I now have to go back and show this to them to hear what their story will be.

Third issue:
One of the apparently inferior nose pads on my lens recently broke off so I had to have it replaced. I was charged $17 for one pad, not even a pair. You'd think this would be free...after all, it's the fault of their inferior frame, which I bought at their store. I've never had to buy a nose pad before, they all previously outlasted the lenses and the frame. The other side is already half-broken and apparently they didn't have the foresight to replace it the same time as the other, one so when that one comes off, I will have to march back to the store to get another replacement...and hope they haven't jacked up the prices! LOL
Now why would I ever want to go back to a place as incompetent as this one, selling inferiour quality products, and not providing less-expensive but perfectly viable alternatives to customers? I cannot think of a single reason. I don't care how many Magna points I can get. It's no wonder they have to advertise, they certainly won't get any word-of-mouth testimonials from me, or probably any of their other customers.

US Visa

Giving a US Visa is I admit a very sensitive issue and more so since the events of September 11, 2001. Who can blame them for being cautious?
What I find is very maddening (hence madness) is that the criminals and would-be terrorists have no trouble getting into the country while the poor unsuspecting innocent will be subjected to the third degree and then not get a Visa or a refund of the application fee. If that is not madness I don't know what is!

Smart Choice Madness

There's some serious madness going on at TSTT. Has been for a long time, no news right? But this is a very current form of madness that is quite dangerous if left unchecked and I feel a certain responsibility to alert the population of Trinidad and Tobago so they know what they are up against.
These are just some warnings about Smart Choice...which, it turns out, may not be such a smart choice for some customers.

First, getting on the plan. It's not as simple as calling the 800-DEAL number because you have to then wait much longer than if you had called 824-8788 so please be aware of that. They do tell you, your service will start in a few days, but that's the furthest from the truth...in actuality it is more like 3-4 weeks.

Second, being on the plan. This is for internet customers. If you are not on TSTT internet service, being on Smart Choice will cost you extra because you are billed per-min for your call to the ISP number

Third, be aware that cell calls are not included in the plan. It is only for landlocked phone lines. And I'm sure 900 numbers are also excluded! If you are not on the Gold plan, be sure to check your call times so you don't go over the limit, because then you will be charged for those extra minutes.

Skyboxes - to rent or not to rent.....

Here's what you usually get in the standard skybox service:

- Either 1 or 2 addresses. (if 2, 1 more letter-type mail and 1 for packages)
- The pleasure of paying approx $2.5 USD per pound.
- The pleasure of paying whatever duty you are charged even if it is wrong!
- The pleasure of paying an annual fee between $30 - $35 USD or more.
- The choice to pay in advance (Express service) or to pay before delivery.

Now you can get almost all of that minus the annual fee with UPS package forwarding service aka UPXpress.
What you don't get:
- Letter-type mail/magazines. All of it will be returned to sender.
- A choice to pay in advance, everything is C.O.D. apparently and if you don't give them their c.o.d. they will take legal action! LOL No kidding!

The website is : http://www.upxpress.net you can register online but you still have to sign the form and bring to their office for final confirmation of your account. The package shipping rates are similar to the skyboxes.
It remains to be seen whether the speed of delivery will be greater or comparable. So now you know!

NIS

Don't say you were not warned!! Check your NIS records with the NIB office where you first started paying NIS!! Your records may not be up-to-date which means you will be in trouble when the time comes for you to collect. Don't let it happen to you! Visit your NIB office today and let the clerks know that you intend to seek legal action if your records are not brought up-to-date if they are in fact found to be not current. They 'fraid that phrase "legal action" so they will make a move when they hear it....otherwise you'll be going and coming....trust me!!
Check out NIB website at http://www.nibtt.co.tt/

Credit you can't afford

It's so difficult to get credit in some places. Some stores say "courts you can..." and mean, "courts you can't" because you will be paying them for so long it will seem like you can't finish! Others are so selective about new people they are not willing to give anyone new a chance so it is standard for them to make the inital approval process a long tedious and drawn out affair. Before you even reach the end, you decide to give up rather than suffer through it. I call those the "too good for you" credit people. Of course that is ironic because credit was designed for the people who couldn't afford to pay cash for items, so for a place that offers credit to adopt such an attitude is laughable.
And in other places, you just can't find what you're looking for, so what's the point?
Then of course there are the ridiculous ones who always promise one thing and deliver the other. Case in point, Your Investments Ltd. a place that sells computers etc. If you call them up today and ask them how long it would take them to build you a system, they will tell you a week for sure. But go in and start the process, and you will find out that it takes more like three weeks and maybe longer if you opt to use their special financing service, which they tell you takes a few days to approve. With only 2-3 days for approval and say, 5 days to build the system, how does 8 days turn into 25 then? This is what happened to someone. Don't say you were not warned!

Skymail saga

Still not a word from the Skymail or courier ppl. Will have to call them next week. This is ridiculous!

http://www.m80teams.com/?QzoxMTE1OjQzMjg3NQ==

De other Skymail story

I don't know if things are like this with other skyboxes because this situation has never come up before.
I recently ordered a DVD from an online merchant. It was taking rather long to arrive so I thought that it perhaps got lost (like another DVD I had ordered) so I wrote to the merchant to ask about it. They said they would send another one. Before the date they said they would ship, I received the item so I emailed to tell them not to send the other DVD. They replied that the shipment could not be stopped at this point but to just mark "return to sender" on the box and all would be fine.
This would have worked well, had I been residing in the US! But of course, it's only my skybox that resides there, so I contacted them to explain the situation, that there was a package that they needed to refuse. The local dept referred me to the Miami dept without actually acting as a liaison (1st wrong thing) and I was told to send them an email. So I sent them an email explaining what I had previously explained to the local dept. They never replied. When I noticed a DVD clearing my account, I sent a reminder email about the package that I did not want delivered. Again no reply. (My mistake, I should have followed up) The first DVD to come after that turned out not to be one that I wanted returned so I got complacent and thought perhaps the package had been stopped after all....I was so wrong.
My next mistake was not thinking to inform my family who are normally at home that there was a DVD I wanted sent back. The DVD came and was opened. So now I am stuck with the DVD that I should have returned and I have to find a way to get it back to the merchant, at minimal cost to me.
I was of course disgusted that my emails had been apparently ignored so I called the local dept and attempted to find out what had happened. The CSRs were as unhelpful as ever so I finally asked to speak with the manager. I was told he was not in but that he could give me a call when he got in. I ended up being the one to call first. The manager listened to the situation and promised to look into it. He asked me to forward the emails I had sent to Miami which I did.
Eventually he got back to me to say that the people in Miami had received the email but they said they had no way to check all the packages to see whether one was the one that I wanted returned.
I countered with "they have to check the packages anyway to see if they are going to Trinidad or wherever, so there is no way it could be that difficult..." I seriously doubt the volume of packages could be so great that on a daily basis it would be so hard to look at the labels to do what I needed them to do.
The manager then agreed to refund me the shipping and customs. He said he needed to find out how that could be done and would call me back the following week.
It has been two/three weeks since he promised to call and I have yet to hear from him.

Computer stories

I take my fas' self and recommend that my friend buy her computer from Your Investments Ltd. They build the systems themselves and give you a decent deal. I told my sister also to buy her pc there. Forgot to mention to my friend that they usually always have delays in delivery even though if you call them at any given time (which I realize later) they will tell you that you can get your pc in a week.
P.S. A week has passed and she has been told, "next week" but not what day next week!
My sister's pc is working ok except for the cdrom so the sytem has to be taken back to be checked because none of the simple things I've tried seem to work.

No word yet

Surprise surprise! Nellon did not call.

Customer service story - duty on imports

Imported a Leapad Learning system. It was classified as a TOY
(WEIGHT: 5 LBS)
I thought the duty fee looked way too high especially since the last item which was in the same class as this was not assessed any duty fees.
I wrote to Skymail (TTPost) via email to query the high duty charge and I was told (via email) to call this number 6262345 which turns out to be ecourier.

First time I called ecourier, pressed 1 for customer service, spoke with female, who did not identify herself. She told me duty on toys: 20% so if they classified it as a toy it would be assessed 20% duty on the value (and I know they add vat)

I called back when I calculated the duty and it still didn't compute with what I was charged.

This time spoke with a guy who when he found out I was a myskymail customer tried to tell me that myskymail was in process of handling my package.
I countered with: I already have my package
ecourier csr: and they told you to call us?
me: they said if I have a query about duty to call this number

So he then asked for the awb and asked if there was anything in the package with the price. I said yes. He took a contact number and said he would call tomorrow. Still didn't offer his name. I asked for his name and then he told me (Nellon in customer service) and repeated that he would call me tomorrow.

So I will tell you more tomorrow! :)