Diversity Visa scams follow a few repeating patterns: a message that says the recipient won, an offer to improve the odds for a fee, a website that imitates a government service, and a demand for payment by a route the government does not use. Entering the lottery is free of any middleman, and the Department of State states that it never announces winners by email or letter.
Quick answer
| Scam pattern | What the official sources say |
|---|---|
| “You won” email or letter | The Department of State does not mail or email selection notices. Entrant Status Check is the only channel |
| Offer to increase the chance of winning | The FTC says nothing can increase the chances of winning |
| Fee to enter | DV-2026 entry had no fee; for DV-2027 the Department states a $1 fee, paid on the official entry process |
| Payment by check, money order, or wire in advance | The FTC lists this as a red flag; fees after selection are paid at the embassy or consulate |
| Helper keeps the confirmation number | The Department warns that some facilitators demand money for it |
Fake winner notices
The USCIS alert about Diversity Visa scams describes fraudulent emails and letters that claim the recipient was selected in the program and ask for money. The Department of State instructions for DV-2026 says the Department never uses email to tell people they were selected. Results appear only in Entrant Status Check, and the confirmation number from the entry is needed to open it. The FTC adds that some scammers say a person won even though that person never entered. A longer guide is in fake DV lottery winner emails and letters.
Paid promises to improve the odds
The FTC states that there is nothing a person can do to increase the chances of winning. Selection is a random computer drawing, and entries within a region have an equal chance. A fee paid to someone who claims special access, a better method, or a guaranteed entry buys nothing the official process does not already provide. See whether anyone can improve DV lottery odds.
Websites that imitate the government
Only internet sites that end in .gov are official U.S. government websites, according to the DV-2026 instructions. The Department of State warns that sites ending in .com, .org, or .net offer immigration information and services, and that it does not endorse them. In an enforcement action announced in October 2003, the FTC alleged that operators of eight websites used official-looking eagles, flags, seals, and misleading domain names to make consumers pay to enter the lottery. The FTC press release of October 2003 notes that this was a complaint and not a court finding. The checklist in how to check whether a DV lottery website is official applies those lessons today.
Entries made without the person’s knowledge
The final rule published March 11, 2026 says the Department has historically encountered millions of fraudulent entries, including entries submitted by third parties on behalf of people without their knowledge. In DV-2025 it found 2.5 million fraudulent entries. The rule describes unauthorized third parties who contact these people and withhold the entry information unless a large fee is paid. This is covered in when someone else enters you in the DV lottery.
Confirmation number hostage-taking
The instructions warn that unscrupulous facilitators have helped entrants with their entries, kept the confirmation page, and then demanded more money or illegal activities in exchange for the confirmation number. Without that number a person cannot check the result. See protecting the DV confirmation number.
Warning signs in one list
- A message announces a win that the person never checked in Entrant Status Check.
- Someone asks for money to enter, to “register,” to “process” an entry, or to improve the odds.
- Payment is requested by check, money order, wire transfer, or Western Union.
- The website is not a .gov address but uses flags, eagles, or seals.
- The sender claims to be the Kentucky Consular Center or the Department of State and asks for money.
- A helper holds the confirmation number, the passport, or the email account used on the entry.
What to do
Do not pay and do not send documents. Open Entrant Status Check on the official site with the person’s own confirmation number. Report the message through the channels described in where to report Diversity Visa fraud.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Diversity Visa lottery itself a scam?
No. It is a program of the U.S. Department of State, set by law. The scams surround it.
Will the Department of State ever ask for money by mail?
The instructions state that it will never ask a selectee to send money by mail or by services such as Western Union, with a narrow exception for people already in the United States who mail adjustment of status fees as directed by USCIS instructions.
How can a real selection be confirmed?
Only through Entrant Status Check on the official site, using the confirmation number.
Does this website sell entries or accept entries?
No. This website is informational and does not offer application services.
Related reading
- Fake DV lottery winner emails and letters
- How to check whether a DV lottery website is official
- Can anyone improve DV lottery odds?
- Where to report Diversity Visa fraud
About this guide
This website is for information only. It is not affiliated with the U.S. government, does not give legal advice or consultations, and does not offer application services. Entries are submitted only on the official entry site, and the current official instructions control, because rules change each year.
Last verified: October 2026. Sources: Department of State instructions for DV-2026; final rule published March 11, 2026; FTC consumer advice on the Diversity Visa lottery scam; USCIS alert about Diversity Visa scams; FTC press release of October 2003.