Visa Lottery Fee Scams (DV Lottery)
Fraudulent notifications claiming you have won the Diversity Visa lottery that demand fees before a visa is issued — or fake application services that charge to submit the free official form.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
What this scam is
Visa lottery fee scams take two related forms, both exploiting the genuine US Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery programme. In the first, individuals who submitted a genuine entry receive a fraudulent notification claiming they have been selected as a winner, and are then asked to pay fees to 'process' or 'confirm' their visa — fees that are not part of the genuine programme. In the second, individuals are charged for services to submit the DV Lottery application when the official submission is free and straightforward to complete without assistance.
The DV Lottery is a real US government programme that makes up to 55,000 immigrant visas available annually through a random selection process. The official application is free, self-service, and submitted directly on the US government's official website during a specific registration period. Any fee charged to enter, process, or confirm a DV Lottery application is a scam.
The genuine selection notification comes exclusively through the official Entrant Status Check on the State Department's official website using the registration confirmation number you created. Emails, letters, or calls claiming to notify you of a win are fraudulent regardless of how official they appear.
How it works
In the fake-win variant, scammers obtain email addresses — sometimes from data breaches, sometimes from people who registered for illegitimate 'DV Lottery services' — and send convincing notifications claiming the recipient has been selected. The message replicates the visual style of official US government communications and includes a claim number to create legitimacy.
The message asks the recipient to pay a processing, administrative, or government fee to 'secure their visa slot' before it is cancelled. The payment is requested through wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Once paid, the sender either disappears or invents further fees for 'documentation', 'embassy clearance', or 'fraud verification'.
In the paid-application variant, websites that appear to be the official DV Lottery portal charge applicants to complete and submit the form. Some actually do submit the entry, but charge for a service that is completely free through the official channel. Others collect payment and personal data without filing anything.
Why this scam works
The DV Lottery is a real programme with genuine life-changing outcomes, which gives the fraudulent notifications genuine plausibility. The emotional impact of believing you have won a visa to a destination you value highly creates excitement that overrides careful scrutiny.
Many applicants are not fully familiar with the exact notification process and do not know that official notifications come solely through the Entrant Status Check — not by email or letter. Scammers exploit this knowledge gap, and the official-looking presentation of their communications reinforces the deception.
Common red flags
- Email or letter claiming you have won the DV Lottery — official notifications only come via the Entrant Status Check
- Any fee demanded before a genuine US government visa appointment
- Pressure to pay quickly before a deadline or your 'slot is cancelled'
- Payment requested by gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or money transfer
- Website offering to submit your DV Lottery application for a fee
- Notification references a case number you did not generate yourself at registration
- Email sender address does not end in .gov
- Requests for personal documents to be sent via email to confirm 'eligibility'
- Claims that your confirmation number is different from what you originally received
- Follow-up demand for further payments after an initial fee is paid
Sanitized example messages
Illustrative, sanitized examples. Personal details are replaced with placeholders such as [phone number] and [fake link].
'Congratulations! You have been selected in the DV Lottery. Pay [amount] within 48 hours to confirm your visa slot.'
'Your DV Lottery case number [number] has been selected. Processing fee of [amount] is required before your appointment can be scheduled.'
'URGENT: You are a DV Lottery winner. Your slot will be cancelled if you do not confirm by paying [amount] today.'
'We submit DV Lottery applications professionally for [amount]. Our experts ensure your entry is error-free and maximises your chances.'
'Your DV Lottery application requires an update. Pay the [amount] verification fee to avoid disqualification.'
Common variations
- Fake DV Lottery notification by physical letter with a payment coupon
- Website that charges an entry fee for the DV Lottery application
- Social media ads from 'DV Lottery consultants' charging for application submission
- Follow-up scam targeting people who already paid an initial fee with demands for 'clearance certificates'
- Phone call claiming to be the US Embassy requesting payment to schedule an appointment
How to verify before you act
DV Lottery results can only be checked through the official Entrant Status Check on the US State Department's dvlottery.state.gov website using the confirmation number you received when you originally registered. Any other notification channel is fraudulent.
The US government does not send emails, letters, or make phone calls to notify selectees. Government fees for the DV Lottery process are paid directly to the US government at specific, official points — never to a third party before any government appointment.
Payment methods used
- Cryptocurrency
- Bank/wire transfer
- Gift cards
- Money transfer services
- Payment apps to 'friends & family'
Who is usually targeted
- DV Lottery applicants
- People in countries with high DV Lottery demand
- Anyone who has ever entered or enquired about the DV Lottery
- People seeking immigration to the United States
What to do immediately
- Check your actual DV Lottery status only through dvlottery.state.gov using your original confirmation number
- Do not pay any fee based on an emailed, mailed, or telephoned notification
- Do not click links in notifications — navigate directly to the official website
- Report the fraudulent notification to the relevant fraud reporting service
- If you paid, contact your bank immediately and report to the FTC
- If you provided personal documents, monitor for identity misuse
- Warn others who may have applied for the DV Lottery about this scam
How to prevent it
- Know that DV Lottery notification comes only through the official Entrant Status Check
- Save your original registration confirmation number and use it only on the official government website
- Never pay any fee to a third party to enter, confirm, or process a DV Lottery application
- Do not click links in emails claiming to be DV Lottery notifications
- Report all suspicious DV Lottery notifications to the FTC and to the State Department
- Share accurate information about the notification process in communities where the DV Lottery is popular
- Verify the URL of any website you use — the official site is state.gov, not a commercial domain
Evidence to preserve
- The fraudulent email including full headers
- Any letters or correspondence received
- Screenshots of any fake websites visited
- Records of any payments made
- The fraudulent case or confirmation number cited
- Date and time of contact
- Any personal documents you were asked to submit
Where to report it
- Action Fraud (UK) — UK national fraud & cybercrime reporting centre
- FTC ReportFraud (US) — US Federal Trade Commission fraud reports
- FBI IC3 (US) — US Internet Crime Complaint Center
- Scamwatch (Australia) — Australian competition & consumer reporting
- Your bank's fraud line — Use the number on the back of your card or in your banking app — never a number the caller gives you
Always verify reporting routes and emergency contacts on the official government or agency website for your country.
Frequently asked questions
How does the real DV Lottery notify winners?
DV Lottery selectees are notified exclusively through the Entrant Status Check at dvlottery.state.gov. The US government does not send emails, letters, or make phone calls to inform applicants they have been selected. If you did not check the official website yourself, any notification you received is fraudulent.
Are there legitimate services that help with the DV Lottery application?
The application form is straightforward and free. While some legitimate services offer general immigration assistance, the application itself requires no professional help and there is no legal advantage to using a paid service. Any service that claims to improve your chances of selection is misleading, as selection is random.