419 scam: "World Bank Group"<director@worldbank.com> Did You Authorize Payment?

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "uk national lottery" (can only win this lottery if you bought a ticket)
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- ",500,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "william.andrews@mail.bg" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "william.andrews@mail.bg" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "World Bank Group" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <william.andrews@mail.bg>
Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2014 00:10:06 -0600
Subject: Did You Authorize Payment?

World Bank Group
In conjunction with United Nations Assisted Program
Directorate of International Payment
Foreign Payment Liaison Office - Benin

This email is to notify you about the release of your outstanding payment of $1,500,000.00 USD.

As the Executive President of the World Bank Group, I discovered that you are among the list of individuals and companies in the Central Computer database list of unpaid beneficiaries, which includes Contract/Inheritance/Gambling/Lottery (Sponsored by Microsoft, Google and UK National Lottery) and other international loans. News had it that over the past, numerous individual(s) who happen to be impostors are claiming to release your fund via numerous ways. We want you to stop all further communication with any other person(s) or office(s). The Government have scheduled a time frame to settle all foreign debts and your unpaid fund has been located to a suspense account.

With the help of the Financial Investigation Unit, we have noticed that your name and email address appeared among the beneficiaries who will receive a part-payment of $1,500,000.00 USD and has been approved already for Payment. Yesterday two foreigners (Mr. Tim Parker and Mr. Rowland Gulf) visited our office in your stead to inform us that they are your representatives from United State, whom you delegated as beneficiaries to collect your funds in your absence. We do not understand why you sent these men to come and collect your funds on your behalf without a Power of Attorney. We do not want to make any mistake in releasing this funds to anyone except you who is the recognized bonafide beneficiary to this funds.

Kindly clarify us on this issue before we make this payment to these foreigners who came on your behalf. In receipt of this confidential Letter, you are required to email back immediately to proceed with the funds release or stop with the release to your representatives and claim your funds personally.

You are advised to contact our Foreign Payment Liaison Office with the following information:
Liaison Officer: Barr. William Andrews (Esq.)
Email: william.andrews@mail.bg

And provide him with the following information:
1. Your Full Name:
2. Your Current Address:
3. Home/Cell Phone:
4. Did You Authorize Payment?: (A) Yes / (B) No

This measure is intended to stop impostors. You are to adhere strictly to the instructions above for more information contact the Liaison officer.

Send all respose via Email: william.andrews@mail.bg

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Jim Yong Kim
World Bank Group, President
---
Cc: World Bank Group
Cc: All Foreign Payment Offices
Cc: Board of Directors [Fpd]

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam