Counterfeit Cashier's Checks: First Federal Bank of Florida

The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit cashier’s checks issued in the bank’s name and using a correct routing number of 263184488 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with unknown scams.

The counterfeit checks do not resemble the bank’s authentic items and may be identified by the following: Counterfeit items contain the incorrect bank names of either “First Federal Savings Bank of Florida” or “Federal State Savings Bank of Florida” in the upper-left corner of the instrument. The words “Cashiers Check” or “CASHIER’S CHECK” are located in the top-center portion of the checks, and the following security statement may be printed in the top border: “THIS CHECK IS VOID WITHOUT A GREEN BACKGROUND AND AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMAK ON THE BANK – HOLD AT ANGLE TO VIEW.” The following statement appears beneath the signature line: “SIGNATURE AREA HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND – BORDER CONTAINS MICROPRINTING.” Items presented to date contain serial numbers in the 152000 series and may contain remitter names of either Craig Brown or John Smith.

For additional information and guidance and to verify the authenticity of First Federal Bank of Florida’s cashier’s checks, please contact Ashley Fieber, BSA/Fraud Compliance Officer–BSA Compliance Department, by mail at 4705 West U.S. Hwy. 90, Lake City, FL 32055; by telephone at (904) 398-7859, x3337; or by email at fiebera@ffsb.com. 

Consumers who receive counterfeit or fictitious items and associated material should file complaints with the following agencies, as appropriate:

• U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Inspector General (OIG): by telephone at (800) 359-3898 or by visiting the OIG website.
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC): by telephone at (877) FTC-HELP or, for filing a complaint electronically, via the FTC's website.
• National Consumers League (NCL): by telephone at (202) 835-3323 or by email. To file a fraud complaint, visit the NCL fraud website.
• Better Business Bureau (BBB): The BBB system serves markets throughout Canada, Puerto Rico, and the United States and is the marketplace leader in advancing trust between businesses and consumers. The website offers contact information for local BBBs, objective reports on more than 2 million businesses, consumer scam alerts, and tips on a wide variety of topics that help consumers find trustworthy businesses and make wise purchasing decisions.
• Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (to report scams that may have originated via the internet).
• If correspondence is received via the U.S. Postal Service, contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service by telephone at (888) 877-7644; by mail at U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Office of Inspector General, Operations Support Group, 222 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 1250, Chicago, IL 60606-6100; or via the online complaint form.

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.

Ellen M. Warwick
Director for Enforcement and Compliance