Alert 2014-2 | January 13, 2014

Counterfeit Cashier's Checks: Simplicity Bank, Covina, Calif.

To

Chief Executive Officers of All National Banks and Federal Savings Associations; All State Banking Authorities; Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; Conference of State Bank Supervisors; Deputy Comptrollers (Districts); Assistant Deputy Comptrollers; District Counsels; and All Examining Personnel

The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit cashier’s checks using a correct routing number of 322278183 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with online auction and online purchase scams.

Counterfeit checks do not resemble the bank’s authentic items and may be identified by the following: Counterfeit items are light blue or light green in color, and the bank’s logo and name are teal green and yellow in color, respectively. One authorized signature line appears on the counterfeit check, which displays a signature name of Rachel McDonald. The check number and date are located in the upper-right-hand corner, and the check number contains only five digits. The words “CASHIER’S CHECK” are located in the top section of the check.

For additional information and to verify the authenticity of Simplicity Bank’s cashier’s checks, please contact Compliance Officer Cathy Patton by mail at 1359 N. Grand Avenue, Covina, CA 91724-1016; by telephone at (800) 524-2274, by fax at (626) 858-8993; or by email at customercare@simplicitybank.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

Topic(s):

Financial Crime