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Alert 2009-7 | May 27, 2009
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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 an incorrect routing number of 021201639 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a lottery scam.
The counterfeit checks have a slight resemblance to the bank's authentic items, and may be identified by the following traits: the instruments are of unknown color, display an account number of 999801 in the MICR line, and include the following security statement centered between two padlock icons along the bottom border of the instrument: "SECURITY FEATURES INCLUDED. DETAILS ON BACK." The abbreviated routing number of 55-169/212 is located to the left of the check serial number in the upper right section of the check, and the word "Purchaser" is displayed in the left center portion of the item.
Items presented to date have been made payable in various amounts between $2,300.80 and $45,900.80 and include a "Purchaser" name of Queens Inc.
Due to possible variations between the appearance of the bank's authentic items and the counterfeit items associated with differing scams, officials of City National Bank of New Jersey suggest they be contacted to verify authenticity of the bank's cashier's checks if received by an unknown individual or entity.
Correspondence accompanying the counterfeit checks may contain the letterhead of "Queens Swiss Lottery UK, Div of Global Finance Inc., 1700 Front Street, Toronto, Ontario M5J2M2" and may be signed by Michael Anderson, Promotion Manager. The correspondence informs the recipient that he or she has been selected as a winner of a lottery draw. The letter states that the enclosed check is to be used to pay all applicable handling fees, taxes, and insurance, and must be deposited in the recipient's account only after speaking to the claims agent. Recipients are instructed to contact Claims Agent Sandra David or Peter Jones at 01-717-785-9602, 01-888-344-0484, or 416-824-7572.
For additional information and guidance, and to verify the authenticity of City National Bank of New Jersey checks, please contact Leonardo Tavares, Compliance Officer, 900 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102, by telephone at (973) 624-0865, ext. 695, by fax at (973) 643-5717, or via email at [Ltavares@citynatbank.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
