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Alert 2008-11 | February 20, 2008
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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; Director, Office of Thrift Supervision; Conference of State Bank Supervisors; Deputy Comptrollers (districts); Assistant Deputy Comptrollers; District Counsel; and All Examining Personnel
The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit cashier’s checks issued in the bank’s name and using the bank’s correct routing number of 011102353 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a mystery shopping scam.
Counterfeit items may be identified by the following traits: checks are of unknown color but contain the following security statement within a darkened top border: "FOR SECURITY PURPOSES, THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING IN THE BORDER." The bank’s logo is printed in the upper-left corner followed by the bank’s name and following information: "Payable Through FNB of Suffield, Suffield, CT. For inquiries, call (886) 262-0398." Note that this telephone number does not belong to the bank. The words "CASHIER’S CHECK" are located in the top center portion of the instrument followed by a security statement, and a remitter section is printed in the lower-left corner. The bottom border contains the following security statement between two padlock icons: "SECURITY FEATURES INCLUDED. DETAILS ON BACK."
Items presented to date have been made payable in the amount of $4,985, contain an 8-digit serial number, an incorrect account number of "8978013581," lack the appropriate underscoring, include an abbreviated routing number of 39-514/9241, and use a remitter name of "S n' C Inc." Due to possible variations in appearance of the bank’s cashier’s checks and scams, it is suggested that officials of The First National Bank of Suffield be contacted to verify the authenticity of any of the bank’s official items, if received from an unknown or questionable source.
The mystery shopper correspondence may contain the letterhead of "SHOP N’ CHEK INC., The Worldwide Leader in Mystery Shopping, TEL/FAX# 1-905-599-7501, Suite 1200, 575 Ilalo Street, Honolulu, HI 96813." Note that the telephone number provided originates out of Oakville, Ontario. The correspondence informs the recipient that he or she has been selected to be a secret shopper for the company. It explains that the enclosed check is to be used to purchase merchandise at various nationally known merchants as well as to transfer money using a nationally known wire service. The funds to be spent at each location are broken down by a specific dollar amount, with the shopper being allotted the remaining funds as payment for their mystery shopper service. The letter may be signed by Kristy Hudson.
For additional information and guidance and to verify the authenticity of The First National Bank of Suffield’s cashier’s checks, please contact Carrie LeBlanc, Vice President/Operations, 30 Bridge Street, Suffield, CT 06078, by telephone at (860) 668-3950, by fax at (860) 668-3954, or via email at [CarrieL@fnbanksuffield.com].
Consumers who receive counterfeit or fictitious items and associated material should file complaints with the following agencies, as appropriate:
Additional information concerning this matter that should be brought to the attention of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) may be forwarded to
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Special Supervision Division 400 7th St. SW, Suite 3E-218; MS 8E-12 Washington, DC 20219 Phone: (202) 649-6450 Fax: (571) 293-4925 www.occ.gov occalertresponses@occ.treas.gov
For additional information regarding other types of financial fraud, please visit the OCC's anti-fraud resources page.
Richard C. Stearns Director for Enforcement & Compliance
