419 scam: "WILLIAM BRADFORD/WORLD BANK NIGERIA DESK."<info@worldbank.org> WORLD BANK PAYMENT/APPLY FOR WAIVER IMMEDIATELY.

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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2347033206328 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "WILLIAM BRADFORD/WORLD BANK NIGERIA DESK." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <williambradford@in.com>
Date: Wed, 7 Sep 2011 04:20:39 -0700
Subject: WORLD BANK PAYMENT/APPLY FOR WAIVER IMMEDIATELY.

WORLD BANK AFRICA REGIONAL OFFICE,NIGERIA
PLOT.2378 ADEOLA ODEKU,STR,V/I.LAGOS
NIGERIA.
Tel: +234-7033206328.

Payment of outstanding Inheritance/Lottery Winning Beneficiaries.

Dear Beneficiary,

Sir.

We wish to inform you that all charges and fees connected to your funds release have been waived by the World bank and the IMF world Financial institutions,all you need to do is to urgently apply for a World Bnak Waiver through my office and we will immediately release your approved sum of US$3.5Million to you without delays as gazatted by the World Bank/IMF,note that we will pay you directly from the world bank purse without recourse to the Nigerian Government

Kindly contact us for the prompt release of your funds and apply for the Waiver which will be honoured immediately you send the Waiver fees of US$200 only to the World bank regional office here in Nigeria.

Dr. William Bedford
World Bank Regional Manager.
Africa.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam