Counterfeit Cashier's Checks: Counterfeit Cashier’s Checks of First Federal Bank of Ohio, Galion, Ohio

The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit cashier’s checks using a correct routing number of 042000314 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with online employment scams, which require the potential victim to wire transfer funds to a third party.

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

• The checks contain the following security statement within a dark blue top border: “THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICRPRINTING. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK.”
• The following notice appears (exactly as typed) above the authorized signature lines:
  DRAWEE: First Federal Bank of Ohio
  TWO SIGNATURES REQUIRED OVER $5, 000.00

Counterfeit checks presented to date have included a serial number beginning with the series number of 808 have been made payable in amounts between $1,680.65 and $2,880.45, and contain remitter names of Steve Brown, Raymond Carter, or Cindy Light.

Email correspondence initiating this scam may contain the name of Steve Brown, and email address of [stevehkland@outlook.com], and a telephone number of (484) 212-1930.

Correspondence accompanying the counterfeit check may be signed by “Premier Research Group Inc.” and contain a cellphone number of (269) 533-4061 where text messages are to be sent.

For additional information and to verify the authenticity of checks drawn on First Federal Bank of Ohio, please contact Assistant Treasurer/Bookkeeping Sally Petrie by mail at 140 N. Columbus St., Galion, OH 44833, by telephone at (419) 468-1518, by fax at (419) 468-2973, or by email at spetrie@firstfederalbankofohio.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