Alert 1998-3 | January 29, 1998

Suspicious Transactions: Fictitious Cashier's Checks and Money Orders

To

Chief Executive Officers of all National Banks; all State Banking Authorities; Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; Conference of State Bank Supervisors; Deputy Comptrollers (Districts); District Counsel and Examining Personnel

Information has been received that fictitious cashier's checks drawn on Mount Greenwood bank, 5052 West I11th Street, Chicago, IL are in circulation. On all of the checks submitted the last two digits of the serial numbers end in "33." In addition, the style of the print for the embossed amount is not correct. A copy of a fictitious check (PDF) is attached.

We are also informed that fictitious personal money orders drawn on Worth Bank and Trust, 6825 West I11th Street, Worth, IL 60482 are in circulation. These items have "PALOSe SAVINGS, " Palos Heights, IL printed in the top-center just beneath "PERSONAL MONEY ORDER." A copy of a fictitious money order is attached.

The parent holding company of the banks, Southwest Bancorp, Inc., has requested that Assistant Vice President Monica Tures be contacted about this matter, (708) 671-2352 or fax (708) 448-9212.

Any information which you may have concerning this matter should be brought to the attention of:

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
Enforcement & Compliance Division
250 E Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20219
Fax (202) 874-5301

Daniel P. Stipano
Director
Enforcement & Compliance Division

Topic(s):

Suspicious Activity Reports (SAR)