Alert 2016-10 | September 16, 2016

Unauthorized Banking: JS Cruiselines Federal Bank, Tampa, Fla.

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 Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has been informed that an entity calling itself JS Cruiselines Federal Bank purports to be a bank specializing in travel funding. JS Cruiselines Federal Bank is not a licensed or chartered bank with the OCC or any other financial regulator. 12 USC 378(a)(2) makes it unlawful for any person or business entity to engage in the banking business without the appropriate state or federal charter. 18 USC 709 bans the use of the word "Federal," among other words, in the name of a banking business except as explicitly permitted by the laws of the United States.

The entity is controlled by Lejuan Sims, who purports to have a business address location of 601 N. Ashley Drive, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33602 and a business telephone number of (813) 422-7644.

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