Counterfeit Official Checks: Counterfeit Official Checks of Edgartown National Bank, Edgartown, Mass.

The above-named bank has reported that two variations of counterfeit official checks using a correct routing number of 0113056854 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with various online auction scams.

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

Variation #1

• The checks are light blue in color and contain a darker blue straight-edged border.
• The following security statement is located within the top border: “WARNING: THIS DOCUMENT HAS SECURITY FEATURES IN THE PAPER.”
• A padlock icon and the words “Security features” are printed along the right-hand border.
• The following security statement appears on the back of the check within a text box:
  
  “THIS DOCUMENT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING SECURITY FEATURES:
  • INVISIBLE FLUORESCENT FIBERS
  • THREE-STAIN SET
  • UV DULL
  • MICRO PRINT
  
  ABSENCE OF THESE FEATURES MAY INDICATE ALTERATION.
  PADLOCK DESIGN IS A CERTIFICATION MARK OF THE CHECK PAYMENT SYSTEMS ASSOCIATION.”

Variation #2

• The checks are light blue in color and contain a decorative dark-blue border.
• The following security statement is located within a dark top border: “THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND HIGH RESOLUTION BORDER. THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS DOCUMENT HAS AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK.”

Counterfeit checks presented to date are missing the bank’s telephone number of (508) 627-1100 under the bank’s logo. Checks have been made payable in varying amounts and have contained a remitter name of Matt Btiner, Ericka Williams, Terry Hutchison, or Matthew Johnson. All checks have been sent to potential victims by 2nd-day overnight mail service.

For additional information and to verify the authenticity of checks drawn on Edgartown National Bank, please contact Vice President of Retail Branch Administration and Security Officer Tilma Zyla by mail at 2 S. Water St., Edgartown, MA 02539; by telephone at (508) 627-1118; by fax at (508) 627-1133; or by email at tzyla@yourislandbank.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