Counterfeit Cashier's Checks: Counterfeit Cashier's Checks of First Federal Savings and Loan, Lorain, Ohio

The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit cashier’s checks using a correct routing number of 241271342 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with various online auction and employment opportunity scams.

The counterfeit checks resemble the bank’s authentic checks; however, the counterfeit items may be identified by the following traits on the front of the checks:

• A padlock security icon and the words “Security Features Included. Details on Back” appear along the bottom border of the check.
• The following security statement appears in the top border: “FOR SECURITY PURPOSES, THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING IN THE BORDER.”

Counterfeit checks presented to date have been made payable in varying amounts from $1,984.70 to $2,450 and with the remitter name Jessica Meyer. The counterfeit checks presented have included the following address beside the bank’s logo in the top-center portion of the check: “1840 E. Perry Street, Port Clinton, Ohio 43452.”

Email correspondence related to this scam has been generated by the following three individuals:

• Bill Carlton, who uses these two email addresses: [ohnelman@hotmail.com] and [itswell1477@live.com]. He has sent potential victims this telephone number: (520) 344-4579 for text messages.
• Tionna and Hopkins Hoffman, who use the following email address: [tionnahoffman10@att.net].

For additional information and to verify the authenticity of cashier’s checks drawn on First Federal Savings & Loan, please contact Compliance Officer Lori Mihalek by mail at 3721 Oberlin Ave., Lorain, OH 44053; by telephone at (440) 282-6338; by fax at (440) 282-4918; or by email at lmihalek@firstfedlorain.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