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Alert 2019-9 | November 4, 2019

Counterfeit Official Checks: Counterfeit Official Checks and Fictitious Cashier’s Checks of First Federal Savings Bank, Ottawa, Ill.

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; Chair, 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 official checks and fictitious cashier's checks using the bank's routing number of 271972912 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a variety of online auction overpayment and job opportunity scams.

The bank does not issue cashier's checks. Therefore, any check drawn upon the bank marked as a "cashier's check" is fictitious.

There are several variations of counterfeit official checks, which may be identified by the following traits:

Variation #1

  • The checks may be light blue/gray in color and contain a wreath watermark and heat-sensitive security inlay within the center of the check.
  • The following security statement is located within the top border: "SECURITY FEATURES INCLUDE TRUE WATERMARK PAPER, MICROPRINT BORDER, HEAT SENSITIVE ICON, AND FOIL HOLOGRAM."
  • The ABA number appears as 70-2912/271.
  • The address located under the bank's name appears as "8 Dannys Drive, Streator, IL 61364".
  • The following security statement is along the right border: "Security Features Included. Details on Back."
  • The authorized signature appears as Laurence E. Bartman.
  • The remitter name may be Marion Gross.

Variation #2

  • The checks may be light blue/gray in color and contain the following security statement within the top border: "ORIGINAL CHECK HAS MULTIPLE SECURITY FEATURES. SEE BACK FOR DETAILS."
  • The address located under the bank's name appears as "A DannyC Drive, Streator, IL 81364."
  • A heat-sensitive shield is included in the bottom center portion of the check.
  • The authorized signature appears as Laurence E. Bartman.
  • The remitter name may be Maria Moffa.

Variation #3

  • The checks are of unknown color and contain the following security statement within the top border: "WARNING: THIS DOCUMENT HAS SECURITY FEATURES IN THE PAPER."
  • The ABA number appears as 70-2912/271.
  • The address located under the bank's name appears as "8 DannyS Drive, Streator, IL 61364".
  • The following security statement is along the right border: "Security Features."
  • The authorized signature appears as Laurence E. Bartman.
  • The remitter name may be Austin Hernandez.

Counterfeit and fictitious checks presented to date have been made payable in varying amounts from $950 to $37,600 and may contain additional remitter names of Lawry Barker, Milana Bash, Daniel Jenkins, Manual Jenkins, Gacqui Mese, Jacquelin Neff, Danielle Reese, Danielle Reeves, or Lisa Touris.

For additional information and to verify the authenticity of checks drawn on First Federal Savings Bank, please contact the Check Verification Department by telephone at (815) 672-0550 or by mail at 633 LaSalle St., Ottawa, IL 61350.

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.

Monica A. Freas
Director for Enforcement and Compliance

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