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Alert 2008-51 | December 12, 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 correct routing number of 091400486 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a lottery scam.
The counterfeit checks do not resemble the authentic items and may be identified by the following traits: the instruments are of unknown color, contain a dark scrolling border, and include the words “CASHIER’S CHECK” enclosed within a box in the top center portion of the check. The following security statement is contained within the top border: “HOLD DOCUMENT UP TO THE LIGHT TO VIEW TRUE WATERMARK.” The bank’s name and logo are printed in the lower-left portion of the check.
Items presented to date have been made payable in the amount of $4,150 and contain a remitter name of “Steven Kreycik.”
The prize award winner notification correspondence accompanying the checks may contain the letterhead of “Hallmark Finance, Inc., 1290 Finch Ave., W., Suite 312, North York, Ontario, M3J 3K3.” The recipient is informed of his or her winning status of a large dollar amount in the North American lottery sweepstakes drawing. The recipient is informed further that the enclosed check will be used to pay a one-time tax fee in order to release the money across the Canadian border and is further instructed to contact claim agent Peter White at (647) 830-4081 for additional instructions. Please note that this telephone number originates from Toronto, Ontario. The letter may be signed by Brian Ray, CEO Hallmark Finance, Inc.
Due to possible variations in the appearance of the bank’s official items and differing scams associated with the counterfeit items, officials of First Dakota National Bank suggest they be contacted to verify authenticity of the bank’s cashier’s checks if received from an unknown or questionable source.
For additional information and guidance and to verify the authenticity of First Dakota National Bank’s cashier’s checks, please contact Laurie Wiedmeier, CDS Supervisor, First Dakota National Bank, PO Box 156, 225 Cedar, Yankton, SD 57078, by telephone at (605) 665-4931, or by fax at (605) 665-6403. In Laurie’s absence, please contact Jack Steiner, Senior Vice President/Audit, at (605) 665-7529, by fax at (605) 665-4983, or via email at [jsteiner@firstdakota.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
