Alert 2005-22 | November 3, 2005

Counterfeit Cashier's Checks: Counterfeit Cashier’s Checks of The Farmers National Bank, Lebanon, Kentucky

To

Chief Executive Officers of All National Banks; All State Banking Authorities; Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; Director, Office of Thrift Supervision; Conference of State Bank Supervisors; Deputy Comptrollers (districts); Assistant Deputy Comptrollers; District Counsel; and All Examining Personnel

The above-named bank reports that counterfeit cashier’s checks issued in the bank’s name and using an incorrect routing number are being presented for payment. These checks, along with fraudulent lottery claim letters, are being mailed to individuals. While law enforcement has seized a number of these packages, the counterfeit checks are already in circulation and are being presented for payment. The fraudulent letters originate from two different locations in Canada and contain one of the following letterheads:

Gwen Rubenstein, Central Management and Payment Centre, Lottery Resources Management & Payment Verification Centre, Suite 1100, 10665 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5J3S9, Telephone: 1-403-667-5614, Fax: 1-403-714-8852.

Kelly McDonald, Contact Marketing & Communications, Inc., Claims Management & Payment Verification Centre, 5809 Macleod Trail South West 206, Calgary, AB T2H0J9, Telephone: 1-403-714-3532, Fax: 1-403-397-1671.

The counterfeit checks may be identified by the following: A dark border printed at the top of the check that includes a notice “This Document has a Colored Background and Microprinting. The Reverse Side Includes an Artificial Watermark.” The checks are printed on computer check stock of an unknown color, possibly green, and contain an incorrect ABA number of either 043310139 or 4310139. The bank’s name appears next to the bank’s logo in the top left corner of the check with the statement “Member FDIC” appearing below it. The bank’s logo appears in a darkened square, and the words “OFFICIAL CHECK” are located in the top center of the check. The statement “Issued by Integrated Payment Inc., Englewood Colorado To Farmers National Bank. For Inquiries regarding this Instrument, Phone (778) 861-1796 or (804) 906-1800” appears in the bottom left portion of the check. A Remitter section is included in the bottom right section and shows either “DAVID McBRIDE” or “Contact Marketing & Communication Inc.” as the remitter.

Authentic cashier’s checks issued by the bank are yellow in color and contain the bank’s routing number, 083901728. The bank’s logo appears in red in the top left portion of the check. The bank’s name, city, and state appear in the top center portion of the check. The correct information is The Farmers National Bank, Lebanon, KY. The remitter section appears directly under the bank’s logo. The words “Cashier’s Check” appear in red in the bottom left portion of the check, and the back of the check shows a continuing string of the words “ORIGINAL DOCUMENT.”

You can verify the authenticity of The Farmers National Bank’s cashier’s checks by contacting Gilbert Todd, cashier, at 136 W. Main Street, Lebanon, KY 40033, by telephone at (270) 692-3177 or by fax at (270) 692-3426.

Additional information concerning this matter that you believe should be brought to the attention of the OCC may be forwarded to:

Email:	occalertresponses@occ.treas.gov
Mail:	Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Enforcement & Compliance Division, MS 8-10 250 E Street, SW, Washington, DC 20219
Fax:	(202) 874-5301
Internet:	https://www.occ.gov

Brian C. McCormally
Director for Enforcement & Compliance

Topic(s):

Counterfeit/Stolen Instruments