Short answer: A green card lottery scam often arrives as a fake winner email, an advance payment demand, or a promise to improve the chance of selection. The Department of State says it does not send successful entrants a letter or email announcing that they won. The result is available only through the official Entrant Status Check.
As of October 13, 2026, the Department’s instructions page does not announce an open DV-2027 or DV-2028 entry period. Therefore, a message demanding urgent payment because “registration is open” conflicts with the current official page. The schedule issue is covered separately in the article about when DV-2028 may open.
What you will find in this article
- How to check whether an entry period is actually open
- The difference between free entry and later visa fees
- Why a winner email is not an official result
- The government’s warning about selection promises
- The confirmation number and one-entry rule
Green card lottery scam quick overview
| Scam claim | Official behavior | Safer check |
|---|---|---|
| You won by email | No winner notification is sent by letter or email | Use Entrant Status Check |
| Pay to submit an entry | The online entry is free | Use only the official E-DV address |
| Wire the visa fee now | The government does not request advance wire payment | Know when and where genuine fees are paid |
| We improve your odds | Consultants cannot improve selection chances | Complete and retain control of your entry |
| Multiple entries help | More than one entry per person causes disqualification | Submit one accurate entry |
Is a Diversity Visa entry period open today?
The official instructions page available on October 13, 2026, still describes DV-2026. That registration opened on October 2, 2024, and closed on November 7, 2024. The page does not announce a DV-2027 or DV-2028 entry period.
That observation does not predict whether or when a future period will open. It means that no open period is announced today. Charging for a supposed current registration without an official announcement is inconsistent with the published page. Eligibility rules, once officially announced, are a separate subject covered in the DV-2028 requirements guide.
How does a green card lottery scam misuse the fee issue?
The Department of State instructions say the online entry is easy and free. Late and paper entries are not accepted. The only official registration location is the E-DV website.
Free entry should not be confused with fees at a later visa stage. The Department’s fraud warning states that DV processing fees are paid at the embassy or consulate cashier on the appointment date. The U.S. government will not demand advance payment by check, money order, or wire transfer.
Accordingly, a message demanding immediate money to “activate” an entry or preserve a selection does not match the official process. Do not follow the message’s link. Type the government address directly into the browser.
How does a green card lottery scam fake winner notices?
No. The Department of State says successful DV entrants do not receive a notification letter or email. The Department may send a reminder to check status, but that reminder does not itself announce selection.
Use the official Entrant Status Check at the E-DV site. The confirmation number is needed for the check. An email asking for payment, bank data, or credentials in order to release a supposed result does not replace the official status screen.
What forms can a green card lottery scam take?
| Message or behavior | Why it is suspicious | Practical response |
|---|---|---|
| Registration opened when no period is announced | It conflicts with the official instructions page | Check E-DV directly |
| You won by email | The Department sends no winner notice | Use the confirmation number in Entrant Status Check |
| Advance wire request | The government does not request that payment method | Do not send money and verify official fee timing |
| Promise to improve odds | Consultants cannot affect random selection | Complete the entry yourself |
| Refusal to provide the confirmation number | It prevents the entrant from controlling the result | Require the number if someone helped file |
It is not responsible to label a named website fraudulent solely because of its name or appearance. Compare its conduct with the official process and payment rules.
How does a green card lottery scam promise better odds?
The Department of State says it does not work with consultants and that consultants cannot improve an entrant’s chance of selection. A promise to increase the odds is therefore not part of the government program.
Incorrect information entered by a helper creates another risk. The Department warns that false information can disqualify an entry. The entrant should review every answer and use an email address the entrant controls.
Why does the confirmation number matter in a green card lottery scam?
The confirmation number is required to check the result through Entrant Status Check. If another person submits the entry, that person must provide the number to the entrant. Keeping it prevents a third party from controlling access to the result.
The Department also limits each person to one entry. Multiple entries lead to disqualification. The photograph must have been taken within the last six months. Those rules show why a paid service that duplicates submissions or recycles an old photograph can create harm rather than an advantage.
What can you do if you believe you were targeted?
Stop sending money or personal data. Preserve the messages, payment requests, and addresses used. Reach the official system by typing dvprogram.state.gov directly instead of using a link in the message.
This article does not invent a reporting procedure or an agency contact that the Department of State has not published. If personal data, money, or an immigration record may be affected, seek appropriate professional assistance. A merit-based option such as EB-2 NIW requires its own eligibility and should not be marketed as an automatic substitute for the lottery.
Common mistakes
- Trusting a government logo as proof of authenticity
- Paying a registration fee when no period is open
- Leaving the confirmation number with a third-party filer
- Submitting multiple entries to increase the odds
- Sending the form without checking the photograph and personal data
Short checklist
- Confirm that the exact domain is `dvprogram.state.gov`.
- Verify the registration period on the official instructions page.
- Use an email address you control.
- Store the confirmation number securely.
- Trust Entrant Status Check, not a winner email.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Diversity Visa entry free?
Yes. The Department says the online entry is free. A later visa-processing fee is a different matter.
Will I learn that I won by email?
No. The Department does not send a successful-entry notification by email or letter. Check through Entrant Status Check.
Can a consultant improve my selection chance?
No. The Department expressly says consultants cannot improve the chance of selection.
Can I submit more than one entry?
No. More than one entry per person leads to disqualification.
Was the entire DV program terminated?
This article makes no such claim. The separate Diversity Visa pause article addresses that subject. The verified point here is that no current registration period appears on the official instructions page.
Conclusion: check the result only on the official screen
The strongest defense is knowing the official behavior: entry is free, winner notices do not arrive by email, and selection is checked only through Entrant Status Check. For anyone who reaches the settlement stage, our guide for Turkish residents in New Jersey covers the day-to-day practicalities. For a case-specific immigration question, contact Clinch Law Firm.
Legal information notice
This article provides general information. It is not legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and does not guarantee a result. Legal information checked on: October 13, 2026.
