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Alert 2015-7 | May 28, 2015

Counterfeit Cashier's Checks: Counterfeit Cashier’s Checks of Community National Bank & Trust, Chanute, Kan.

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 counterfeit cashier’s checks using a correct routing number of 101105817 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with various Internet-based employment and overpayment scams.

Four variations of counterfeit checks currently in circulation resemble the bank’s authentic checks. The counterfeit checks may be identified, however, by the following traits:

Variation #1

  • The checks contain the following security statement in the top border: “WARNING: THIS DOCUMENT HAS SECURITY FEATURES IN THE PAPER.”
  • The words “Security features” are printed in the right border next to a padlock icon.

Variation #2

  • The checks contain a lace-style border that includes the following security statement in the top border: “THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND HIGH RESOLUTION BORDER. THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS DOCUMENT HAS AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK.”

Variation #3

  • The checks contain the following security statement in the top border: “TO VERIFY AUTHENTICITY, SEE REVERSE SIDE FOR DESCRIPTION OF THE 11 SECURITY FEATURES.”

Variation #4

  • The checks contain the following security statement in the top border: “THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK.”

Counterfeit checks presented to date have been made payable in varying amounts from $1,680 to $2,880 and have contained remitter names of Matthew Brolin, James Foster, or Sylvia Winsor. None of the counterfeit checks contain the bank’s telephone number of (620) 431-2265.

Potential victims of this scam are contacted via email after responding to online employment advertisements. Once the assignment is accepted, the potential victim receives payment in the form of a counterfeit check, which is made payable for a higher amount than the salary agreed upon. The recipient is instructed to deposit the check into his or her bank account and immediately send the overpayment portion to a third party by wire transfer.

Suspect names and contact information used in these scams include:

  • Thomas Dwyer, [nolaldavis@gmail.com], cell: 630-948-0079 (text only)
  • Dorothy Johnson, [dorothyjohn00son@gmail.com]

For additional information and to verify the authenticity of cashier’s checks drawn on Community Bank & Trust, please contact Vice President of Deposit Operations Jaime Fickel by mail at 14 N. Lincoln Ave., P.O. Box 628, Chanute, KS 66720; by telephone at (620) 431-2265; or by fax at (620) 431-2268.

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

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