Alert 2015-14 | September 23, 2015

Counterfeit Cashier's Checks: Counterfeit Cashier’s Checks of First Financial Bank, NA, Hamilton, Ohio

To

Chief Executive Officers of All National Banks and Federal Savings Associations; All State Banking Authorities; Chair, 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 two variations of fictitious cashier’s checks using a correct routing number of 042200910 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with an online employment scam. The bank does not issue cashier’s checks.

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

Variation #1

The checks contain the following security statement along the top border: “WARNING: THIS DOCUMENT HAS SECURITY FEATURES IN THE PAPER.”
The words “CASHIER’S CHECK” are printed over the aforementioned security statement.
Remitter names appearing on this variation may include Eric Brownstein and Tim Reeves.

Variation #2

The checks contain a dark top border with the following security statement: “THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK.”
The words “CASHIER’S CHECK” are printed over the aforementioned security statement.
Remitter names appearing on this variation may include Donald Williams and David Walker.

Counterfeit checks presented to date have been made payable in amounts ranging from $1,720 to $3,850.

For additional information and to verify the authenticity of checks drawn on First Financial Bank, NA, please contact the bank’s Client Service Center by mail at 300 High St., Hamilton, OH 45011, or by telephone at (877) 322-9530.

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