Comparing shipping rates to Russia: Shipping Epson v600 Photo fromAmazon via Shipito vs. from B&H Photo Video directly using USPS ExpressMail (EMS)

I've decided to use USPS Express Mail for shipping Epson v600 Photo scanner to Russia. This way of shipping is faster than USPS Priority Mail. Besides your parcels are delivered to your door when using USPS Express Mail, while they are delivered to your postal office when using USPS Priority Mail. USPS Express Mail is slightly more expensive than USPS Priority Mail, but it is worth every penny.

Shipping Epson Perfection v600 Photo Scanner using USPS Express Mail from B&H Photo Video costed USD $141.00.

[caption id="attachment_653" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Shipping Epson Perfection v600 Photo Scanner using USPS Express Mail from B&H Photo Video"][/caption]




Shipping Epson Perfection v600 Photo Scanner from Amazon (not its marketplace) to a USA location is absolutely FREE. So I shipped the scanner to my middleman, a US company called Shipito, for free. I've used the "FREE with Super Saver Shipping" option on Amazon.

Then I used Shipito to ship the scanner to Russia via USPS Express Mail. It costed me USD $105.24. Other expenses when using the "Individual packages" plan are equal to zero (no setup fees, no monthly fees).

[caption id="attachment_654" align="alignnone" width="501" caption="Shipping Epson Perfection v600 Photo Scanner from Amazon using Shipito and USPS Express Mail"][/caption]



As you can see, the same shipping method was chosen (USPS Express Mail), but it was USD $35.76 cheaper to ship from Amazon using Shipito, than to ship from B&H Photo Video directly.

Note: The american version of Epson v600 Photo supports 110V only, so you need a different power supply or a voltage stabilizer to use it in Russia. Personally I use Robiton IN3800S AC adapter (Input: 100-240V, 50-60Hz, Output: 24V, 1.5A). It was cheaper to buy Robiton IN3800S and replace its cable with the one from Epson A411B than to buy Epson A411E AC adapter (Input: 220-240V, Output: 24V, 1.3A) or to buy Epson v600 compatible AC adapter (Input: 220-240V, Output: 24V, 1.5A) on eBay. Note that replacing the Robiton IN3800S cable will require you to use special tools and a soldering iron, you won't be able to do it with regular screw drivers only. Besides Robiton I was also suggested to use an AC adapter from MeanWell.

[caption id="attachment_1395" align="alignnone" width="578" caption="Robiton IN3800S (100-240V, 50-60Hz) with Epson A411B cable"][/caption]

Note: Usually Amazon sends multiple goods in several packages, so it is recommended to use the "Virtual Mailbox" plan on Shipito when buying multple items. "Virtual Mailbox" allows you to consolidate packages (You pay only $2 for every consolidated package).

Is USAFIS Organization legit or scam?

USAFIS Organization alerts consumers:

Every day, internet users receive emails that tells them they won a Green Card. Con artists and swindlers have found a new avenue to pitch their frauds - the Internet. Fraud is a crime!
Email makes it easier for the scammer to commit fraud. Con artists are very persuasive, using all types of excuses,
explanations, and offers to lead you away from common sense.

Beware of Imposters

There are companies posing as USAFIS wishing to scam you of your money.
The following two emails have been reported to us that are using the USAFIS name.

How do you know it is scam?

Example of e-mail scams
The following are Examples of email claiming to be from the USAFIS.
Do not reply to these emails or give them any money!

[caption id="attachment_627" align="alignnone" width="129" caption="U.S. Department of State gov.state.dv@usa.com scam e-mail"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_634" align="alignnone" width="254" caption="usafis.org usafis.net@consultant.com scam e-mail"][/caption]

Notice!
The scammer is asking money to be wire transferred to a PRIVATE BANK ACCOUNT and not to Usafis Organization.

[caption id="attachment_630" align="alignnone" width="274" caption="Wire transfer fraud: Send Western Union payment to "24 Grosvenor Square, London, W1A 2LQ, United Kingdom""][/caption]

How do you know it is us?

USAFIS email will always have USAFIS ORGANIZATION as the beneficiary

USAFIS never asks for payment for processing:

1. U.S. visa
2. Green Card

We never include notifications that you will receive another email from outside organizations.
Only once a year (May-July) USAFIS informs its clients, selected in the U.S. Green Card Lottery program, they have won.
Once a person is selected in the program, he or she works directly with their local U.S. Embassy and not with USAFIS.

You can't buy a green card

If a person is selected by the green card lottery, the individual works directly with their local U.S.
embassy or consulate to complete the green card process. Companies trying to scam people of their money will usually claim a central U.S. embassy address of where the money is going to.

The U.S Federal Trade Commission Tips

The U.S Federal Trade Commission the nation's consumer protection agency, has warned about other companies misrepresenting their services by saying that:

• They are affiliated with the U.S. government;


• They have special expertise or entry form that is required to enter the lottery;


• Their company has never had a lottery entry rejected;


• Their company can increase an entrant's chances of "winning" the lottery;


• People from ineligible countries still are "qualified" to enter the lottery.

Contacting the Federal Trade Commission:
If you think you are a victim of a green card lottery scam, contact the Federal
Trade Commission toll-free at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). Source of Information:
http://www.ftc.gov

Protecting Yourself from Fraud

In addition, some companies jeopardize an entrant's opportunity to participate in
the lottery by filing several entries. These companies also may charge lottery-winning
applicants substantial fees to complete the application process.

The Federal Trade Commission says the best way to protect against green card lottery
scams is to understand how the State Department's lottery works.

• There's no charge to enter the green card lottery. You can enter on your
  own at the State Department's Web site - www.dvlottery.state.gov.
  You'll need to answer a few questions and provide passport-style digital photographs.
  You'll get an acknowledgment from the State Department once you've submitted your
  entry.
  
  


• Hiring a company or attorney to enter the lottery for you is your decision, but
  the person you pay will have to follow the same procedure. And your chance of being
  selected is the same whether you submit the entry or you pay someone to do it for
  you.
  
  


• Submit only one entry. If you submit more than one, you will be disqualified.
  
  


• Selection of entries is random. Spouses who are eligible for the DV lottery
  can apply separately; the "losing" spouse can enter the country on the Diversity
  Visa of the "winning" spouse. This is the only legitimate way to significantly increase
  your chance of entering the U.S. through the DV lottery.
  
  


• Be alert to Web sites promising government travel or residency documents online
  or by mail. Except for entering the DV lottery, most applications for visas,
  passports, green cards, and other travel and residency documents must be completed
  in person before an officer of the U.S. government.
  
  


• Be thoughtful about who you send your personal documents to. Unless you have
  an established relationship with a business, do not mail birth certificates, passports,
  drivers' licenses, marriage certificates, Social Security cards, or other documents
  with your personal identifying information to businesses promising to complete your
  application for travel or residency documents. These businesses may be engaged in
  identity theft.
  
  


• Be skeptical of Web sites posing as U.S. government sites. They may have
  domain names similar to government agencies, official-looking emblems (eagles, flags,
  or other American images like the Statue of Liberty or the U.S. Capitol), the official
  seals or logos of - and links to - other government sites, and list Washington,
  D.C., mailing addresses. If the domain name doesn't end in ".gov," it's not a government
  site. Bogus sites may charge for government forms. Don't pay; government forms and
  instructions for completing them are available from the issuing U.S. government
  agency for free.
  
  

To file a complaint or get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Watch a new video, How to File a Complaint, at ftc.gov/video to learn more. The FTC enters consumer complaints into
the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies
in the U.S. and abroad.

As you can see USAFIS Organization warns its consumers about scams and frauds.

If you haven't used USAFIS for participating in the DV lottery, but received "USAFIS Organization - Diversity Visa (DV) winner" and "U.S. Department of State - Permanent Resident Card for vasya pupkin" e-mails from gov.state.visa@usa.com and gov.states.visa@usa.com then this is definitely a scam.

Also note that the scammers know your name, e-mail, phone number and IP address used for application. Was this information gotten without USAFIS Organization being involved one way or another? Was USAFIS protecting customer's information properly?

Anyway there are many web-sites like USAFIS that "help" you to participate in the Diversity Visa Lottery Program for a fee. They may do what they say, BUT you can enter the DV lottery for FREE if you apply online on the official DV lottery web-site (U.S. Department of State). The application process on the www.dvlottery.state.gov is pretty simple. Even if you have any questions about it, ask you friends or ask in one of the immigration forums.

My verdict:
Stay away from companies like USAFIS. Apply on the official DV lottery web-site (U.S. Department of State) for FREE.

"United States Permanent Resident Card" spam fromgov.states.visa@usa.com asking to send USD $880 payment for visaprocessing via Western Union

Got "USAFIS Organization - Diversity Visa (DV) winner" and "U.S. Department of State - Permanent Resident Card for vasya pupkin" e-mails from gov.state.visa@usa.com and gov.states.visa@usa.com? Then read the warning on the usembassy.gov web-site:

The U.S. Department of State warns DV lottery applicants:

If you have received an email notifying you that your application for the Diversity Visa (DV) Program has been successful and that in order to proceed with your application you are required to send money to a named individual at the U.S. Embassy in London, you are a victim of a scam.

Successful DV applicants are notified by the Department of State, Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) by letter, NOT email and are provided instructions on how to proceed to the next step in the process. The KCC will NOT ask you to send money to them or to this Embassy or any other U.S. Embassy by mail or by services such as Western Union.

For those of you who have applied for DV-2012 official notification of selection will be made on line through the Entry Status Check which will be available from May 1, 2011 on the E-DV website at http://www.dvlottery.state.gov

Remember, successful DV applicants are notified by the Department of State, Kentucky Consular Center (KCC). No other organization or private company is authorized by the Department of State to notify DV applicants of their winning entry, or the next steps in the processing of applying for their visa.

FTC also alerts consumers:

Diversity Visa Lottery: Read the Rules, Avoid the Rip-Offs

If you or someone you know is trying to get a green card — the right to live in the United States permanently — be on the lookout for unscrupulous businesses and attorneys. They’ll claim that, for a fee, they can make it easier to enter the U. S. State Department’s annual Diversity Visa (DV) lottery (also known as the “green card lottery”) or increase your chances of winning the DV lottery.

Each year, the State Department conducts a lottery through its DV program to distribute applications for 50,000 immigrant visas. Winners of the lottery have a chance to apply for an immigrant visa, which can be used to enter the U. S. Winners are selected randomly, and there is no fee to enter the lottery.

Entries to the DV lottery must be submitted online at www.dvlottery.state.gov. (This site is only accessible during the application period.) Paper entries or mail-in requests will not be accepted. Lottery entrants must include a passport-style digital photograph and separate digital photographs of any spouse and children under 21 years of age. Group photographs are not allowed. Check with the State Department for technical requirements of the digital photograph.

Entries are accepted for a limited time. For the DV-2009 Lottery (to be conducted in 2007), the application period is from October 3, 2007, through December 2, 2007. DV-2009 visas will be issued between October 1, 2008 and September 30, 2009. Check with the State Department for entry dates for future DV lotteries.

Entrants may submit only one entry during any particular DV lottery; those who submit more than one entry will be disqualified. Spouses may submit separate entries, however, if each meets the eligibility requirements. If only one spouse is selected, the other may enter the country on the Diversity Visa of the winning spouse.

The DV lottery has two eligibility requirements:

1. The entrant must be from an eligible country. You must have been born in an eligible country, or have parents who were born in eligible countries and who were not residents of your country of birth, when you were born. For example, your parents might have lived temporarily in the ineligible country because of their jobs.
   
   Every year, the State Department announces the countries whose natives are ineligible for application. For the DV-2009 lottery, natives of the following countries are not eligible to apply: Brazil, Canada, China (mainland born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Russia, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories,and Vietnam. Persons born in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan are eligible. Applicants should check with the State Department to determine the ineligible countries for future DV lotteries.
   
   


2. Entrants must meet an education or training requirement. You will have met the education requirement if you have a high school education or have successfully completed a 12-year course of elementary and secondary education. You will have met the training requirement if you have at least two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience to perform. The U.S. Department of Labor’s O*Net OnLine database will be used to determine qualifying work experience.

Green Card Lottery Scams

According the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, some businesses and attorneys misrepresent their services by saying that:

• they are affiliated with the U.S. government;


• they have special expertise or a special entry form that is required to enter the lottery;


• their company has never had a lottery entry rejected;


• their company can increase an entrant’s chances of “winning” the lottery;


• people from ineligible countries still are “qualified” to enter the lottery.

In addition, some companies jeopardize an entrant’s opportunity to participate in the lottery by filing several entries. These companies also may charge lottery-winning applicants substantial fees to complete the application process.

Protecting Yourself from Fraud

The FTC says the best way to protect against green card lottery scams is to understand how the State Department’s lottery works.

• There’s no charge to enter the green card lottery. You can enter on your own at the State Department’s Web site ­— www.dvlottery.state.gov. You’ll need to answer a few questions and provide passport-style digital photographs. You’ll get an acknowledgment from the State Department once you’ve submitted your entry.
  
  
  Hiring a company or attorney to enter the lottery for you is your decision, but the person you pay will have to follow the same procedure. And your chance of being selected is the same whether you submit the entry or you pay someone to do it for you.


• Submit only one entry. If you submit more than one, you will be disqualified.


• Selection of entries is random. Spouses who are eligible for the DV lottery can apply separately; the “losing” spouse can enter the country on the Diversity Visa of the “winning” spouse. This is the only legitimate way to significantly increase your chance of entering the U.S. through the DV lottery.


• Be alert to Web sites promising government travel or residency documents online or by mail. Except for entering the DV lottery, most applications for visas, passports, green cards, and other travel and residency documents must be completed in person before an officer of the U.S. government.


• Be thoughtful about who you send your personal documents to. Unless you have an established relationship with a business, do not mail birth certificates, passports, drivers’ licenses, marriage certificates, Social Security cards, or other documents with your personal identifying information to businesses promising to complete your application for travel or residency documents. These businesses may be engaged in identity theft.


• Be skeptical of Web sites posing as U.S. government sites. They may have domain names similar to government agencies, official-looking emblems (eagles, flags, or other American images like the Statue of Liberty or the U.S. Capitol), the official seals or logos of — and links to — other government sites, and list Washington, D.C., mailing addresses. If the domain name doesn’t end in “.gov,” it’s not a government site. Bogus sites may charge for government forms. Don’t pay; government forms and instructions for completing them are available from the issuing U.S. government agency for free.

For More Information

For details about the State Department’s Diversity Visa lottery, visit www.dvlottery.state.gov. You also may call the State Department’s Visa Services’ Public Inquiries Branch at 202-663-1225. This number has recorded information with an option to speak with a visa specialist during normal business hours. Those overseas should contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
The FTC works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint or get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Watch a video, How to File a Complaint, at ftc.gov/video to learn more. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.


October 2007

Do not just delete e-mails from scammers. Make copies of these e-mails with headers and report the fraud to an U.S. civil or criminal law enforcement agency. You can easily do it online:
How to report a scam or fraud to U.S. government (civil and criminal law enforcement agency) online?

How to report a scam or fraud to U.S. government (civil and criminal law enforcement agency) online?

If you become a victim, there is help available from U.S. government. Below is a list of official USA government web resources to help you report internet scam or fraud.

• Report Child Pornography on the Internet
  This website gives you information on how to report child pornography to the appropriate law enforcement agency.


• Report Complaints about Foreign Companies
  Report complaints about transactions with foreign companies. Certified government agencies may use this information to investigate suspect companies and individuals, uncover new scams, and spot trends in fraud.


• Consumer Complaint Form
  Report both civil and criminal complaints, such as Internet, telemarketing, and other consumer-related fraud through the Consumer Sentinel database. This tool is used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies to gain immediate and secure access to your complaint.


• Further Ways to Report Internet Fraud from Cybercrime.gov
  View this helpful chart of where to report various Internet-related crimes, including hacking, spam, copyright piracy, and child exploitation.


• Report Identity Theft
  If you believe you have been the victim of identity theft, use this form to send a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).  While the FTC does not resolve individual consumer problems, your complaint helps them investigate fraud and can lead to law enforcement action. 


• Internet Crime Complaint Center
  Alert authorities of a suspected criminal or civil violation through the Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC). The IFCC serves as a central place for Internet fraud complaints, works to find fraud patterns, and provides timely data of fraud trends.


• Internet Investment Fraud
  File concerns and problems with individual investors at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Complaints can alert the SEC to a bad broker or firm, an unfair practice in the securities industry, or the latest Internet fraud.

Scam, fraud and spam from usafis.org: "USAFIS Organization - DiversityVisa (DV) winner" and "U.S. Department of State - Permanent ResidentCard for vasya pupkin" e-mails from gov.states.visa@usa.com

"USAFIS Organization - Diversity Visa (DV) winner" and "U.S. Department of State - Permanent Resident Card for vasya pupkin" e-mails from gov.state.visa@usa.com and gov.states.visa@usa.com

A friend of mine received a couple of messages from usafis.org. The first e-mail was from gov.state.visa@usa.com:

Date: 2011/2/21
Subject: USAFIS Organization - Diversity Visa (DV) winner
To: vasya pupkin <vasyapupkin@gmail.com>

vasya pupkin , You accepted to receive messages from USAFIS Organization on the following date: 2009-11-08T10:56:21.563


We wish to notify you that you have been selected as one of the Diversity Visa (DV) Program winner for receiving a United States Permanent Resident Card. It is also known as the Green Card Lottery. The lottery has been administered on an annual basis by the Department of State and conducted under the terms of Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
Section 131 of the Immigration Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-649) amended INA 203 to provide for a new class of immigrants known as "diversity immigrants" (DV immigrants).
As part of the agreement we will issueВ  A FREE Airline ticket from your country to the USA to claim your Green Card under the American Green Card Lottery Program. The ticket will be sent via post mail at your address registered with us once your visa will beВ  remitted by the U.S department of State.
The U.S Department of State will should contact you soon with visa processing information and how to proceed further.

If you have any question regarding the visa please wait for the U.S Department of State to contact you as we do not have any competency to discuss further details with you.
What should you do now ?
Wait for the U.S Department of State to contact you and give you the information about visa processing and how to proceed further .


Best regards,
Costumer Service Team

The USAFIS Organization

You accepted to receive messages from USAFIS Organization on the following date: 2009-11-08T10:56:XX.XXX

For reference, your computer IP: XXX.XXX.XX.XXX was recorded to confirm your registration
To no longer receive messages from USAFIS Organization, please click the following link: Click Here
Send a postal request to: USAFIS Organization 2576 Broadway # 443 New York, NY 10025 U.S.A

U.S. Department of State gov.states.visa@usa.com scam e-mail

And the second e-mail was from gov.states.visa@usa.com:

From: U.S. Department of State <gov.states.visa@usa.com>

Date: 2011/2/21
Subject: U.S. Department of State - Permanent Resident Card for vasya pupkin
To: vasya pupkin <vasyapupkin@gmail.com>

U.S. Department of State sent this message

to vasya pupkin (vasyapupkin@gmail.com)

Your registered name is included to show this message originated from U.S. Department of State.

В  Congratulations, you've won !

Dear vasya pupkin , Congratulations ! You are among those randomly selected and registered for further consideration in the diversity immigrant program. Selection guarantees that you will receive a United States Permanent Resident Card(also known as Green Card or Diversity Visa) only if you follow the instructions for further processing. Acceptance Date: Monday 21st of February 2011 07:17:03 PM Winner Name: vasya pupkin Country of Birth: Russia Phone Number: 7-XXX-XXXXXXX

Is the Diversity Visa FREE ? No. There is a big confusion. Only the participation in the Diversity Visa Lottery was free but the winners must pay the visa processing fees. The fee is used to process your visa related documents and verify your identity.

Fees: Type of Residence Card Status Amount (per person) United States Permanent Resident Card Granted! - Waiting for payment of processing fee $880 Processing fees Included Total $880 INSTRUCTIONS Please read and follow all the instructions very carefully. With the Diversity Visa (also known as Green Card) you will enjoy all the advantages and benefits of a US permanent resident, including health and education benefits, and employment opportunities along with guidance in your new country, orientation sessions and programs to integrate into mainstream American society. Once received you can use it at any time you want to move in the United States or just travel. The visa must be renewed after 10 years. Although you will have all the rights that a U.S. citizen has in the United States, without a relative or friend in the United States you may find the relocation difficult and expensive due the lack of experience in the American society. Therefore the U.S. Government helps you with the accommodation and offers you along with each visa Health Insurance (Freedom HSA Direct Individual Health insurance for 1 year), Dwelling(Apartment in any city you prefer, 1 bedroom for 3 months ), a guaranteed job(in the field that you are are currently qualified so you can start working even from the first week you arrive in the United States and get paid as U.S citizen. ) and education (for U.S. Students or Higher Education through EducationUSA. It includes transfer to a U.S college or Univeristy so you can continue your educational study. More details can be found at http://educationusa.state.gov/ .) We remind you that only the visa processing fee ($880) is mandatory and the visa is guaranteed upon receiving the payment. Accompanying family members(wife/husband, fiancee, brothers, sisters, children, cousins) may be included in the program and their visas will be provided at the same time with yours so you can travel/move together in the same time. However the fees must be paid per person and each member(e.g wife, brother, parents, children, cousin) must pay $880. There is no discount for children. Visa Payment processing instructions The fees must be paid using Western Union money transfer and will be processed by the U.S. embassy in the United Kingdom. Western Union is a leading provider of International person-to-person money transfer. With more than 150 years experience and 245,000 Agent locations in over 200 countries and territories, Western Union is recognized for sending money quickly, reliably, and safety. You can send the payment in U.S. dollars or equivalent of your local currency. Click on the following link to find the nearest Western Union agency and send the fees payment : Find Western Union Agency If you are unable to find a Western Union agency near your location, you may ask a relative or friend to pay the fee on your behalf. After you find a Western Union agency you need to go with cash money, an identity card(e.g passport or national identity card) and send the payment to the U.S. embassy agent address in United Kingdom: Name : John Roberts  Address: 24 Grosvenor Square London, W1A 2LQUnited Kingdom The payment must be sent to the above U.S. embassy agent address in United Kingdom because the U.S. Government decided this based on the diplomatic relations with your country. В  В  After you send the payment follow the next steps : a) Email copy/scan of the Western Union receipt at gov.state.visa@usa.com b) Email at gov.state.visa@usa.com with the following details (you can find them on the money transfer receipt): 1) Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN): 2) Exact sender's name on file with Western Union: 3) Exact sender's address on file with Western Union: 4) Exact receiver's name on file with Western Union: 5) Amount sent: Then wait for the confirmation that the payment was received. Within 72 hours, you will receive a confirmation via email with your Case Number/Confirmation Number and exact date and time(approx. 2 days) of the final interview. Upon successful interview you will receive your documents and travel information to move in the United States. Under no circumstances your visa status won't be affected by the interview. В

В В Important Notice! The payment must be sent via Western Union no later than March 8, 2011. You are strongly encouraged not to wait until the last day to pay. Heavy demand may result in system delays. Under no circumstances can diversity visas be issued or adjustments approved after this date, nor can family members obtain diversity visas to follow-to-join the principal applicant in the U.S. after this date. The visa processing fee(US$ 880) is mandatory for each person and the U.S. Government doesn't offer any discount, loan or exception. You have been selected winner of the Diversity Visa lottery so the visa is guaranteed upon receiving the payment fees on time. A hard copy of this letter will be mailed to your postal address upon receiving the payment fees. Please be advised that even through you are a winner of Diversity Visa your Case Number/Confirmation Number will be provided only after you send the payment confirmation of the fees. Please do not contact us to ask for the Case Number/Confirmation Number. If it would be necessary to contact the U.S. Department of state YOU MUST ALWAYS REFER TO YOUR NAME. The email address is gov.state.visa@usa.com CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT: AUTHORITIES: The information asked for on this form is requested pursuant to Section 222 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Section 222(f) provides that the records of the Department of State and of diplomatic and consular offices of the United States pertaining to the issuance and refusal of visas or permits to enter the United States shall be considered confidential and shall be used only for the formulation, amendment, administration, or enforcement of the immigration, nationality, and other laws of the United States. Certified copies of such records may be made available to a court provided the court certifies that the information contained in such records is needed in a case pending before the court. PURPOSE: The U.S. Department of State uses the facts you provide on this form primarily to determine your assification and eligibility for a U.S. immigrant visa. Individuals who fail to submit this form or who do not provide all the requested information may be denied a U.S. immigrant visa. Although furnishing this information is voluntary, failure to provide this information may delay or prevent the processing of your case. ROUTINE USES: If you are issued an immigrant visa and are subsequently admitted to the United States as an immigrant, the Department of Homeland Security will use the information on this form to issue you a Permanent Resident Card, and, if you so indicate, the Social Security Administration will use the information to issue a social security number. The information provided may also be released to federal agencies for law enforcement, counterterrorism and homeland security purposes; to Congress and courts within their sphere of jurisdiction; and to other federal agencies who may need the information to administer or enforce U.S. laws.

Are e-mails from gov.state.visa@usa.com and gov.states.visa@usa.com a scam or fraud?

Basically the e-mails ask you to send USD $880 to

Name : John Roberts
Address: 24 Grosvenor Square
London, W1A 2LQ
United Kingdom

using Western Union. This is definitely a scam. Can you believe that the U.S. government can ask you to send any money using a person-to-person transfer? And can you believe that you need to send them to the U.K.?

The scammer uses a nice trick with

U.S. Department of State
gov.states.visa@usa.com

and

gov.state.visa@usa.com

Note that usa.com is a private domain name owned by World Media Group LLC, so it doesn't belong to the U.S. government.
The U.S. government uses .gov domains, not .org, not .com domains. The U.S. department of State uses the www.state.gov domain. If you don't know anything about domain names, ask a computer savvy person to help you.
As you can see the beginning of the gov.states.visa@usa.com and gov.state.visa@usa.com e-mail addresses tries to imitate www.state.gov, although the reversed order is used. This is indeed confusing for novice users.

p.s. I also like

Best regards,
Costumer Service Team
The USAFIS Organization

Costumer Service LOL

How to avoid DV Lottery (Green card lottery) scams and frauds

If you want to participate in a DV lottery (Green card lottery) or check whether you have won the green card or not, use the official DV lottery web-site (U.S. Department of State). Or search for the "U.S. Department of State" with google.

Do NOT use any companies like usafis.org. The application process on the www.dvlottery.state.gov is pretty simple. Even if you have any questions about it, ask you friends or ask in one of the immigration forums.

Also note that if you will become a winner in the DV lottery (green card lottery), you should receive a letter (not just an e-mail, but a physical letter) from the U.S. Department of State. And you will be able to check your status on www.dvlottery.state.gov for FREE!

How to report DV Lottery (Green card lottery) scam or fraud to U.S. civil or criminal law enforcement agency

Got e-mails from scammers like the ones from gov.state.visa@usa.com and gov.states.visa@usa.com? Do not just delete them. Make copies of these e-mails with headers and report the fraud to an U.S. civil or criminal law enforcement agency. You can easily do it online:
How to report a scam or fraud to U.S. government (civil and criminal law enforcement agency) online?

2964 Columbia St., Torrance, CA 90503, USA: Scam and fraud or legit?

Is the following address used for scams and frauds?

2964 Columbia St.
Suite # XXXXX
Torrance, CA 90503
USA

No, this is one of the warehouses used by Shipito (Eastbiz Corp.).


Shipito warehouse: 2964 Columbia St., Suite # XXXXX, Torrance, CA 90503, USA

What is Shipito (Eastbiz Corp.)?

Shipito (Eastbiz Corp.) is a US package forwarding company (also known as a freight forwarder, a mail forwarder or a shipping forwarder) allowing to overcome geographical shipping restrictions and ship online purchases to

• Alaska, Hawaii,


• U.S. Protectorates and Insular areas (Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Marshall Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, or Federated States of Micronesia),


• APO, FPO, and DPO Addresses,


• DOS Addresses,


• other countries including but not limited to Canada, the U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, India, Russia, Kuwait, Virgin Islands, Japan, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden, Australia, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, Slovakia, Bahrain, Israel, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, The Bahamas, Bermuda, Brazil, Cayman Islands, the Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan,...

Shipito is one of the largest freight forwarders. It has tens of thousands of customers from all over the world. Shipito Facebook page has more than 5'000 likes:



See also: US online stores shipping and not shipping to Shipito warehouse in Torrance, California (2964 Columbia St., Torrance, CA 90503, USA).

Can the "2964 Columbia St., Torrance, CA 90503, USA" address be used for scams and frauds?

Yes it can be used for legit as well as illegal activities like ANY other address. BUT I and many of my friends use it for making legit purchases in US online shops that don't ship overseas. Also even US individuals and US companies use Shipito package/parcel forwarding service for shipping to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Marshall Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, or Federated States of Micronesia.

Information for online retailers about Shipito

Shipito and victims of stolen credit cards

If you're a store owner who shipped product to 2964 Columbia St., Torrance, CA 90503, USA and got a chargeback, contact Shipito immediately if you are a victim of credit card fraud. If they find that a stolen credit card was used, they immediately send packages back to you. Shipito has zero tolerance policy. Fraud accounts are immediately canceled.

Shipito and international sales

Shipito offers a program where they can guarantee all sales to online retailers if they are purchased directly by Shipito. This allows online retailers not to lose international sales, while Shipito takes the risk of accepting international payments.

Visit Shipito web-site

How to avoid Amazon shipping restrictions: "This item cannot be shipped to the address you selected" and "We are not able to ship this item to your default shipping address"

Part 1: Amazon Shipping Restrictions
Part 2: Overcoming Amazon Shipping Restrictions and shipping outside the US

Amazon Shipping Restrictions

Amazon has the following Shipping restrictions:

Warranty issues and manufacturer restrictions prevent us from shipping certain products to all geographical locations. In addition, some items too big to ship to a P.O. box must be shipped to a street address. You'll be notified while placing your order if we're unable to ship specific items to the address you've selected. Below are some general guidelines for items shipped by Amazon.com to the following destinations:

• Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico


• APO, FPO, and DPO Addresses


• DOS Addresses


• U.S. Protectorates


• Prisons


• International destinations

If you are purchasing an item from Amazon Marketplace, read about Marketplace shipping restrictions.


Books that require special handling because they are extremely heavy (for example, multi-volume sets) can be shipped only to locations within the U.S. Please also check the product detail pages for this and any other item-specific shipping restrictions.

---

Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico Addresses

Some items from our Tools & Hardware, Electronics, and Outdoor Living stores can't be shipped to Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico if they are extremely heavy, oddly-shaped, or considered hazardous. Additionaly, some items from our Health and Personal Care store cannot be shipped to these destinations. Check the item's product detail page for eligibility and available shipping options. Only specific shipping options may be available for some addresses. Available shipping options will appear at checkout when you enter a shipping address.

APO, FPO, and DPO Addresses

Most items can be shipped to APO, FPO, and DPO addresses, except:

• cell phones and service


• computers


• furniture


• grocery items


• outdoor living items


• Target@Amazon.com items

Additionally, some apparel, baby, camera and photo, electronics, health and personal care, housewares, jewelry, software, sports, and tools and hardware items cannot be shipped to APO, FPO, or DPO addresses. An error message will appear at checkout if you enter an APO, FPO, or DPO address and the item isn't eligible to be shipped to that address. Check the item's product detail page for eligibility.

DOS Addresses

Many items can be shipped to DOS addresses, except:

• Food items (for humans and/or pets)


• Some liquids


• Heavy items


• Items that look like weapons

For a full list of shipping restrictions at a specific DOS address, please contact the DOS facilities staff at that location or review the DOS restrictions beginning on page 26 here: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/88704.pdf

U.S. Protectorates

Only the following items can be shipped to U.S. Protectorates:

• baby items


• books


• DVDs


• music


• software


• toys


• VHS videos


• video games

Prisons

Amazon.com delivers to penitentiaries, but we strongly suggest you contact the prison first to confirm that they accept deliveries and to note any special regulations the prison might have. Some prisons don't allow delivery of hardcover books. Others place a limit on the number of items contained in a package.


We're unable to affix any special labels or instructions to the packages and on the outside will indicate only the destination address, our company name, and our return address. We also cannot allow gifts to be sent anonymously to inmates; the sender's billing address will appear on the order invoice.


Because inmates cannot sign for deliveries, packages must be sent via U.S. Mail. While Amazon.com often sends packages via U.S. Mail, we also use UPS and FedEx. There is no way for customers to request a specific shipper. To avoid delivery problems, you might consider having the items shipped to you and then shipping them to the penitentiary via U.S. Mail.

Overcoming Amazon Shipping Restrictions and shipping outside the US

Amazon.com accepts international debit and credit cards, so there are no problems paying for your items. But when ordering from Amazon.com you may get one of the following error messages:

Important Message: "This item cannot be shipped to the address you selected"
Important Message: "We are not able to ship this item to your default shipping address"
Important Message: "Item cannot be shipped to the selected address"
Important Message: "We're sorry. This item can't be shipped to your selected destination. You may either change the shipping address or delete the item from your order by changing its quantity to 0 and clicking the update button below. ( See geographical restrictions.)"
Important Message: "We're sorry. One or more items can't be shipped to your selected destination. Please sign in to change the shipping address or delete the item(s) from your order."
Important Message: "We're Sorry. Due to shipping restrictions, the following item(s) cannot be shipped to the shipping address you have selected."

Amazon.com: Item cannot be shipped to the selected address

It is easy to overcome this limitation and ship to your country. Just get a virtual address in the USA using a company like Shipito. Shipito allows you to forward your packages from their virtual USA addresses. They have multiple locations in the USA in California, Nevada and Oregon. If you use their warehouse in Tualatin, Oregon you will be able to avoid any sales tax, consolidate your packages (if needed) and send them to your country by USPS Priority Mail Express International USPS Priority Mail International, Polonez Parcel, USPS Flat rate box and Flat rate envelope, FedEx, FedEx MPS, Fedex Freight, Shipito Air Mail, DHL Express, TNT.

I've received 30+ packages from Amazon.com using my Shipito virtual USA address. Here is one of them:

My package from Amazon in the Shipito warehouse (before package forwarding)

Visit the Shipito web-site

www.applian.com complaints: Reports that Applian Technologies is ascam, fraud

Are there any complaints about www.applian.com? Is Applian Technologies a scam or fraud?

What is Applian Technologies (www.applian.com)?

Applian Technologies (pronounced uh-ply-uhn) develops and provides world-class affordable streaming media recording software to the Windows user.

Applian Technologies is a privately held company based in San Anselmo, CA.

Applian Technologies software:

• Replay Media Catcher


• Replay Video Capture


• Replay Converter


• Replay Music


• Replay Telecorder for Skype


• Video Padlock


• Replay AV


• Replay Media Splitter


• Replay Player


• At-Large Recorder


• Fast Video Download


• Freecorder


• Ask & Record Toolbar


• Applian FLV Player

Applian Technologies software is fully DMCA compliant, and do not decrypt or otherwise circumvent strong copy protection mechanisms in violation of international laws. However, 99% of all streaming video and music is unprotected, so with Replay Media Catcher, Replay AV, Replay Video Capture, Replay Music you'll be able to capture and save almost everything you find on the Internet.


Is Applian Technologies (www.applian.com) a scam or fraud?
Some users complained that FREE products by Applian Technologies are bundles with spyware and malicious adware:

Fast Video Download is good but I hate the latest version because it has loaded Freecorder into my computer and it brings up adverts all over my browser. I hate it and I can't get rid of it! 

 

Got probably Numerous Malware and unwanted Plug-In and Addons trought this. Things like Insta-Share. My Antivirus showed up more than 5 Viruses. Can't recommend.

This add on installs "search menu" which cannot be removed - interferes with both searches and operation of Firefox, and is basically a pain in the you know what to live with. Tried to use the link to get tech support and it now redirects to another unrelated site promoting other softwares instead. I SO wish I could recover one of the earliest versions that worked so well - used to be a pretty good tool.

I've been a fan of FVD ever since it was recommended to me. But, with great regret, I'm removing it because of the TERRIBLE "searchmenu" add-on - which I do NOT remember being asked if I wished to install. I am fed up of it bumping my google searches down the page with spurious irrelevant - and sometimes offensive - sponsored ads. The big issue is that this occurs just as I'm clicking (often the top) link - so I get redirected to pages (often triggering pop-ups) I don't want. Bad move by a previously great add-on :-(((

As said by others, this corrupts searching. It inserts links to bad sites, when doing google seraches. Since I also have WOT (Web Of Trust) installed, it informed me of the problem.Was a pain in the neck to find who the bad guy was that was doing this and it was this add-on.Avoid it like the plague!

Fast Video Download is not the only free software from Applian Technologies that got complains. You may also read multiple stories on the Internet about Freecorder in conjunction with malware, spyware, troyan.

More facts:

• Аffiliate scam (rip off) by Applian Technologies.

Summarizing the above mentioned information I strongly recommend to avoid any software sold by the company. Poor ethics and online reputation is visible with a naked eye.

What are the main complaints about Applian Technologies?
If you navigate to the Applian User Forums, you will see lots of negative feedback, complaints and problems. But the the most alarming thing is bundling software with spyware or malware. When you see such an unethical behavior, I strongly recommend to avoid any products sold by the company.

Can you recommend www.applian.com software?
Absolutely not

If you think that Applian Technologies is a scam, fraud, or want to report unauthorized debit/credit card charges, rip off, poor service, please leave your comment.

www.jaksta.com complaints: Reports that Jaksta is a scam, fraud

Are there any complaints about www.jaksta.com? Is Jaksta a scam or fraud?

What is Jaksta (www.jaksta.com)?
Jaksta is a joint venture between Applian Technologies Inc. of the USA, and Jaksta Technologies Pty Ltd. of Australia.

Jaksta is one of the BEST streaming audio/video downloaders. Jaksta allows to save video and audio files from thousands of web sites as they play on your Mac and PC.

Jaksta was originally written for Windows PCs in 2008, and then rewritten as a pure Mac application in 2011. As new streaming protocols and formats are introduced, the developers behind Jaksta are dedicated to keeping these programs at the forefront of technology.

Jaksta products are fully DMCA compliant, and do not decrypt or otherwise circumvent strong copy protection mechanisms in violation of international laws. However, 99% of all streaming video and music is unprotected, so with Jaksta you'll be able to capture and save almost everything you find on the Internet.

Jaksta on other web-sites
Jaksta for Mac on Facebook
Jaksta for Mac: Video introduction on Youtube
Streaming audio/video recording forums: Threads tagged with jaksta

Is Jaksta (www.jaksta.com) a scam or fraud?
I've tried Jaksta for Windows in 2008 and have been monitoring the company since then. It has been recommended by many users of the Streaming audio/video recording forums.

I've tried Jaksta for Mac in 2011. Still see no major complaints. And since Jaksta offers demo versions, you can try their software before buying.

I've been checking both Jaksta and Jaksta for Mac with VirusTotal, but haven't found any viruses, spyware or malware.

What are the main complaints about Jaksta for Windows?

• Error when installing. “Error 1001. An exception occurred in the OnAfterInstall event handler...


• Im getting unsupported codec errors when converting a downloaded/recorded file. What do I do now?


• Jaksta is not capturing anything at all. Including YouTube. and I see no activity in the status area. What's wrong?


• Jaksta sometimes downloads an SWF file which I can't convert to play. How can I get rid of these?


• Some live streams produce FLV files that play back out of sync. How can I fix them?


• When downloading from some sites, I only get a portion of the video. Why?


• Why are videos and songs being recorded/downloaded with strange file names?


• Why can't Jaksta record from Hulu?

See the Jaksta for Windows FAQ to learn get the answers onto the above mentioned questions.

Can you recommend www.jaksta.com?
Absolutely

If you think that Jaksta is a scam, fraud, or want to report unauthorized debit/credit card charges, rip off, poor service, please leave your comment.

www.applian.com coupons: Replay Music coupon code

Replay Music is a UNIQUE streaming music recorder that captures MP3 files from ANY web-site or PC-based software. Every song is saved on your PC as a HIGH QUALITY MP3 file, automatically tagged with the artist, song title, album and genre, and perfectly separated into individual tracks. You can even burn songs directly to CDs, or copy them to your iPod or MP3 Player. Plus, it's incredibly EASY to use. What a GREAT way to discover new music!

Replay Music: Video introduction

 

Replay Music coupon code (Source Code)

• Get $2 off Replay Music. Expires: 2011/04/21