Alert 1998-6 | February 12, 1998

Suspicious Transactions: Fictitious Official Checks

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 Official Checks drawn on the former Texas Commerce Bank, National Association, Houston, Texas, are currently in circulation internationally.

To date, almost all items have been drawn: "pay to the order of Dr. H.J.F. Woltemas, aka Hans-Joachim Woltemas." The instructions accompanying the fictitious checks state that collections and confirmations are handled by a "Ms. Michelle Lee Gramm" at Texas Commerce Bank, Houston, Texas. No such person exists at the bank. The official checks, confirmation documents and all matters relating to these transactions are fictitious.

The bank has requested that Jackie T. Wallace, Fraud Prevention Officer, Chase Bank of Texas, N.A.(the successor bank) be contacted about this matter, (713) 216-4021 or fax (713) 216-1952. 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, DC 20219
Fax (202) 874-5301

Daniel P. Stipano
Director
Enforcement & Compliance Division

Topic(s):

Unauthorized Banking