Mboya spots red flags
Mboya said he immediately became suspicious because he had never entered the lottery.
“I received this email that nimeshinda Green Card. But I never applied for one, and I have never been interested.”
He also warned his followers against opening the attached PDF.
“Ukipata such email, usifungue PDF.”
Another detail that raised suspicion was the sender's email address. Mboya noted that it did not use an official US government domain.
US government websites generally use the .gov domain, making messages sent from ordinary free email services a major warning sign when they claim to represent US government agencies.
How the real Green Card process works
The US Diversity Visa programme, commonly known as the Green Card Lottery, is a legitimate government programme.
However, the US Department of State says applicants must check their selection through the official Entrant Status Check system. Winners are not notified through email or text messages.
The programme is also free to enter. Requests for money from individuals claiming to process a Green Card should therefore be treated with caution.
Selection itself does not guarantee a visa. Selected applicants must complete additional requirements, including submitting the DS-260 form, providing supporting documents, undergoing a medical examination and attending a consular interview.
Thousands of Kenyans selected
The warning comes as the current DV-2026 programme approaches its deadline.
According to US government data cited in recent reports, 3,949 Kenyans were selected as potential beneficiaries for DV-2026.
Worldwide, more than 20.8 million qualified entries were recorded for the programme, with about 129,516 prospective applicants registered.
All DV-2026 visas must be issued by 30 September 2026. Selection does not guarantee that an applicant will ultimately receive a visa.
Kenyans react to the warning
Mboya's post prompted other Kenyans to share similar concerns about suspicious Green Card messages.
Some warned that attachments or links in phishing emails can be used to direct victims to fraudulent websites or obtain sensitive information such as passport and financial details.
For anyone receiving an unexpected Green Card notification, the safest step is to avoid opening attachments or responding to the sender.
Instead, applicants should verify their status through the official US government channels and rely on their original confirmation number.
Mboya's experience has consequently become a timely reminder that an unexpected Green Card email is not necessarily good news — and, in some cases, may be an attempt to steal personal information.
