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Visa lottery for Norway? No, websites part of ‘dangerous’ scam

“Norway Visa Lottery Application Form 2021/2022 Is Out,” reads a message posted on Facebook and WhatsApp, and circulating in African countries.

“The Norwegian Visa Lottery online Application Form 2021/2022 registration exercise which is the quickest way for all Foreigners interested in immigrating legally to live, Study and work in Norway,” it adds.

Norway is in northern Europe.

The message continues: “The Resident Card Lottery Program also known as Visa Lottery program is a chance for 45,000 people from all over the world to become permanent and legal residents of the Norway, meaning that they can live. work and study in Norway.”

It then links to various websites where people can supposedly apply for the visa lottery.

But is the offer legit? We checked.

NorwayVisa_Scam

‘Attackers on norway-visa.online may trick you’

Africa Check attempted to open the link to one of the websites – norway-visa.online – but both the Chrome and Firefox browsers immediately warned that it was deceptive.

“Firefox blocked this page because it may trick you into doing something dangerous like installing software or revealing personal information like passwords or credit cards,” the Firefox warning reads.

Chrome also said the site was dangerous: “Attackers on norway-visa.online may trick you into doing something dangerous like installing software or revealing your personal information (for example, passwords, phone numbers, or credit cards).”

Website warning

No such lottery exists – Norway embassy

We took the risk – not recommended – and opened the site. It’s headed “NORWEGIAN RESIDENT CARD VISA LOTTERY”. But it’s crudely designed and does not link to any authentic Norwegian website.

It asks users to fill in their personal details. It also inquires about their proficiency in English, and their marital and employment status.

After users have submitted their personal information, the site tells them to share the information with 15 WhatsApp friends or five groups to get the lottery form. This is a form of engagement bait, which tries to increase the reach of a scam.

In October 2021 the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Accra, Ghana, took to Facebook to warn people against the scam.

“NO SUCH LOTTERY EXIST,” it said. “Please be aware of a scam text message that is currently being spread pointing to a website. The text message refers to a Norwegian Visa Lottery online Application Form and asks you to apply by referring to a linked web-page.

“This text message and web-page for application is a scam and has nothing to do with any official visa application system or procedure.”

The warning was also posted on the embassy’s website.

To help protect yourself against online fraudsters, read our guide to Facebook scams and how to spot them.

 

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