DV Lottery Scam and Fraud: How to Spot Fake Sites, Agents, and Notification Emails

The DV lottery attracts millions of hopeful applicants every year, and that hope has created a massive fraud industry targeting them. In December 2025, US and Colombian authorities arrested 19 individuals operating scam call centers in Medellin and other Colombian cities. These rings ran over 150 fraudulent websites and 30 fake Facebook pages that mimicked official US government branding. Victims paid fees ranging from $100 to $90,000 USD for services that were either worthless or actively harmful.

If you are applying for the DV lottery or have already applied, understanding how these scams work is not optional -- it is essential to protecting both your money and your immigration eligibility.

The Most Common DV Lottery Scams

Fake entry submission services. These websites look professional and often use .com or .org domains that include words like "usvisalottery," "greencardcenter," or "dvprogram." They charge $50 to $500 to "submit your entry" to the lottery. In reality, the DV lottery entry can only be submitted at one website: dvprogram.state.gov. No third-party site has any connection to the official system. Some of these services actually submit your entry (which you could have done yourself for free), while others simply take your money and personal data without submitting anything.

"You have been selected" notification emails. The US government does not send emails, letters, texts, or phone calls to notify DV lottery winners. Results are available only through the Entrant Status Check portal at dvprogram.state.gov. If you receive an email congratulating you on your selection and asking you to pay a "processing fee" or "visa reservation fee," it is fraud. Delete it.

Confirmation number ransom. Some fraudulent agents offer to "help" you submit your lottery entry and then retain your confirmation number. When results are announced, they contact you and demand payment to release the number so you can check your results. This is why you should always submit your own entry and store the confirmation number yourself.

Fake interview preparation services. After selection, scammers offer "guaranteed visa approval" preparation services for hundreds or thousands of dollars. Some conduct fake video interviews, issue fake approval letters, and collect "visa fees" that go directly to the scammers. The only visa fee is the $330 USD paid directly to the US Embassy cashier on the day of your actual interview.

Identity theft through fake applications. In the worst cases, scammers use the personal data you provide (passport numbers, dates of birth, addresses) to file fraudulent asylum claims or other immigration applications in your name. This can permanently bar you from entering the United States legally, even if you had nothing to do with the fraudulent filing.

The Colombia to US Diversity Visa Lottery Guide includes a comprehensive list of known fraudulent domains and a verification protocol you can use before engaging with any service.

How to Verify Legitimacy

Check the domain. The only official websites for the DV lottery program end in .gov. Specifically:

• Entry submission: dvprogram.state.gov
• Instructions: travel.state.gov
• General information: usa.gov

Any website ending in .com, .org, .net, .info, or any other extension is not a US government site, regardless of how official it looks.

Check the fee structure. Entering the DV lottery costs $0 (or $1.00 starting with DV-2027). The only mandatory government fee is the $330 visa application fee per person, paid at the Embassy. The $235 USCIS immigrant fee is paid after visa approval. If anyone asks for money at any other stage, they are not the US government.

Check the notification method. You must check your own results at dvprogram.state.gov using your confirmation number. No one from the US government will ever contact you to tell you that you won. Not by email, not by phone, not by WhatsApp, not by letter.

Verify agents and lawyers. If you choose to use an immigration attorney (which is not required for the DV lottery), verify their credentials. In the United States, attorneys must be licensed by a state bar association. In Colombia, look for attorneys who are members of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). Any "agent" or "consultant" who is not a licensed attorney and charges for immigration advice is operating in a legal gray area at best.

Red Flags That Signal a Scam

• They guarantee you will be selected in the lottery. No one can guarantee selection -- it is a random computer drawing.
• They claim the lottery has a "deadline" that is different from the official dates published on travel.state.gov.
• They ask for your confirmation number. No legitimate service needs your confirmation number. It is for your use only.
• They ask you to pay via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or cash. Official US government fees are paid by credit/debit card or at the Embassy cashier.
• They contact you through Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, or Telegram claiming to represent the US government. The Department of State does not recruit or contact applicants through social media.
• Their website has spelling errors, broken links, or uses unofficial logos. However, some sophisticated scams have pixel-perfect copies of government sites -- always check the URL bar.

What to Do If You Have Been Scammed

If you have already paid money to a fraudulent service:

1. Report it to the US Embassy. The US Embassy in Bogota tracks fraud patterns and your report helps protect others. Contact information is available at co.usembassy.gov.
2. Report it to Colombian authorities. File a report with the Fiscalia General de la Nacion.
3. Report it to the FTC. The US Federal Trade Commission accepts international fraud reports at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
4. Monitor your identity. If you provided passport numbers, addresses, or financial information, monitor for unauthorized use. Consider placing alerts with your bank.
5. Do not send additional money. Scammers often follow up with requests for "additional fees" or "penalty payments." Every subsequent payment goes to the same fraudsters.

Protecting Yourself Going Forward

The best protection is a simple rule: interact only with .gov websites, pay only at the Embassy, and never give your confirmation number to anyone. The DV lottery was designed to be a process that any individual can complete without intermediaries. The entry form takes about 15 minutes. The confirmation number is your only receipt. The results are checked by you, personally, at dvprogram.state.gov.

The Colombia to US Diversity Visa Lottery Guide includes an anti-scam protocol with a list of known fraudulent domains, a verification checklist for any service or agent that contacts you, and instructions for recovering a compromised confirmation number if a third party has gained access to it.

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