A message that says “you have won the Diversity Visa lottery” is not how the U.S. government notifies people. The Department of State states that Entrant Status Check on the official entry site is the only means by which it tells selectees about their selection, and that it does not mail letters or send emails announcing a win.
Quick answer
- Real results appear only in Entrant Status Check, which needs the confirmation number from the person’s own entry.
- The U.S. government has never sent emails to announce selection, according to the DV-2026 instructions.
- A message that asks for money, a passport copy, or a bank detail to “release” a visa is not from the Department of State.
What the Department of State does send
The Department of State instructions for DV-2026 explain the limited emails that exist. After a selectee has responded to the instructions in Entrant Status Check, and if an immigrant visa interview becomes available, the Department may send an email. Those emails do not contain the date or time of the appointment. They tell the person to open Entrant Status Check for details. The Department may also send reminders to check the status, and those reminders never say whether an entry was selected.
How a fake notice usually looks
- It declares a win that Entrant Status Check does not show.
- It uses a government name, such as the Kentucky Consular Center, but comes from a .com, .org, .net, or free email address.
- It asks for a “processing” or “clearance” fee, often by wire transfer, check, or money order.
- It asks for personal data or money, which the Department of State warns against sending to non-government websites.
The USCIS alert about Diversity Visa scams describes the same pattern in simple terms: fraudulent emails and letters that pose as the U.S. government and aim to collect money from people who hope to obtain a visa. The FTC adds that scammers may claim a person won even though that person never entered.
Only .gov addresses are official
According to the DV-2026 instructions, only internet sites that end with the “.gov” suffix are official U.S. government websites. Many other sites provide visa-related information and services, and the Department does not endorse them. The instructions also warn that deceptive emails may come from people pretending to be affiliated with the Kentucky Consular Center or the Department of State.
How fees really work
For DV-2026 the instructions say that selectees pay visa fees in person to the consular cashier at the embassy or consulate, or to USCIS when adjusting status inside the United States. The FTC states that the application fee is paid at the cashier on the day of the appointment. The Department says it will never ask for money by mail or services such as Western Union for embassy processing.
What to do with a suspicious message
- Do not reply, click links, or open attachments.
- Open the official entry site by typing the address, not by using a link in the message.
- Use Entrant Status Check with the confirmation number from the person’s own entry.
- If the person never entered, treat the message as fraud.
- Report it. See where to report Diversity Visa fraud.
If money was already sent
Keep the receipts, messages, and any email headers. Report the payment to the agencies listed in the reporting guide and to the payment provider that handled the transfer. The sooner the report is made, the more options exist.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Department of State ever email winners?
No. The instructions say the U.S. government has never sent emails to notify individuals that they have been selected.
What if the email says it is from the Kentucky Consular Center?
The instructions warn that deceptive emails may pretend to come from that center. Check the result in Entrant Status Check instead.
Can an embassy confirm a selection by phone?
No. Embassies, consulates, and the Kentucky Consular Center do not provide lists of selectees or check status for entrants.
Is a notice in the mail ever valid?
The Department states that it does not send notification letters. A mailed letter claiming selection is not legitimate.
Related reading
- DV lottery scams: common types and warning signs
- How to check whether a DV lottery website is official
- Protecting the DV confirmation number
- Checking DV lottery results
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; USCIS alert about Diversity Visa scams; FTC consumer advice on the Diversity Visa lottery scam.