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Alert 2008-3 | January 24, 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 a fictitious routing number of 03112675 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a mystery shopper scam.
Counterfeit items may be identified by the following traits: checks may be blue, tan, or pink in color and contain the following security statement in the top border: “THIS DOCUMENT HAS A GRADUATED BACKGROUND, DARK TO LIGHT. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK.” The initials “FSNB” along with the bank name and address are located in the upper-left corner of the item, and the words “Cashier’s Check” are located in the top-center portion of the check.
Items presented to date contain a remitter name of either Richard Woods or David Rainbolt, are made payable for either $3,850 or $4,550, and reference a branch number of 2028. Due to possible variations in appearance of the bank’s cashier’s checks and scams, it is suggested that officials of Fort Sill National Bank be contacted to verify the authenticity of any of the bank’s official items, if received from an unknown or questionable source.
Correspondence accompanying the checks may contain the letterhead of “Mystery Shoppers PLC, www.money-op.com, P.O. Box 1301, New York, NY 10040, Tel: 1-226-200-0376; Fax: 1-646-248-6243.” The letter may be signed by Richard Woods, Director Human Resources. The correspondence informs the recipient that he or she has been pre-qualified to be a secret shopper for the company. It is explained that the enclosed cashier’s 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 with a specific dollar amount, with the shopper being allotted the remaining funds as payment for their mystery shopper service.
Recipients are instructed to fax a completed acceptance form before depositing the check. The letter states that the recipient will then be instructed to wire money to one of three people who are located in various cities, including one in Canada.
For additional information and guidance and to verify the authenticity of Fort Sill National Bank’s cashier’s checks, please contact Julie Cavazos, Vice President, Bookkeeping, 1647 Randolph Road, PO Box 33009, Fort Sill, OK 73503, by telephone at (580) 354-3869, by fax at (580) 355-0641, or via email at [jcavazos@fsnb.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.
/signed/
Richard C. Stearns Director for Enforcement & Compliance
