World Bank Inspection Panel Warns Against Fraudulent Activity Using Its Name and Logo

In March 2023, the World Bank Inspection Panel was informed that its name, as well as the name of its Chairperson, were used in an attempt to commit fraud by an individual in South Korea. The scammer sent a letter to the victim under the name of the World Bank Inspection Panel’s Chairperson and using the World Bank Inspection Panel’s logo. In the letter, the scammer was soliciting a payment by the victim for the victim to be able to access a credit approved in its name.

The World Bank Inspection Panel is an independent complaints mechanism for people and communities who believe that their environment or livelihood have been, or are likely to be, adversely affected by a World Bank-funded project.  The World Bank Inspection Panel does not engage in any kind of commercial transactions, including the one alluded to in such letter and it does not solicit payments from third parties. 

If you receive what seems to be an unusual money request from person(s) claiming to be members of the World Bank Group or the World Bank Inspection Panel, or have concerns as to the authenticity of the World Bank Group's or the World Bank Inspection Panel’s actual involvement in a particular transaction, solicitation, notification, directive or request, do NOT respond to the request and do NOT send any money or provide any of your personal bank account details. If you would like to verify the authenticity of any communications received from the World Bank Inspection Panel, please send an email to ipanel@worldbank.org.