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Alert 2006-70 | December 13, 2006
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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 has reported that counterfeit cashier's checks issued in the bank's name and using a correct routing number of 053101684 are being presented for payment both locally and nationwide in connection with a variety of lottery scams.
Counterfeit items have a strong resemblance to the authentic items; however, counterfeit items may be identified by the following traits: the checks may be tan in color and contain the following statement along the top border of the instrument: "THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND ON WHITE PAPER AND ORIGINAL DOCUMENT SECURITY SCREEN ON BACK WITH PADLOCK SECURITY ICON."
Items presented to date have been made payable in the amounts of either $3,880 or $4,950 and contain a remitter name of either Peter Murphy or Alexander Hutchingson. Due to the possibility of future appearance variations, it is suggested that First National Bank of Shelby be contacted to verify authenticity of their official items.
Correspondence accompanying the counterfeit items presented to date have contained three separate letterheads: "STARLUCK CASINO, 1300 Ranch Estates Place, Calgary, Alberta T3G 1M3, 403-399-8562," "Win-For-Me International Sweepstakes, 145 Yonge St, Suite 330, Toronto, ON M3H 5S7, 905-920-9723," and "Gamebookers Financial Trust Inc., 300 Anjo Insurance Building, Lower Long Street, St. John's, Antigua & Barbuda, 902-412-8907." Recipients are informed of their winning status in the specified sweepstakes and asked to contact the claim representative to arrange payment of their processing fees, insurance, and/or taxes so that the remainder of the winnings may be released. Contact names presented in the letters include: Cynthia Jones, Busman Oliver, Peter Murphy, and Dr. Alexander Hutchingson. Note that all telephone numbers provided in the correspondence are of Canadian origin.
For additional information and guidance and to verify the authenticity of First National Bank of Shelby's cashier's checks, please contact the bank's call center via telephone at (704) 484-6200 or via fax at (704) 484-6279.
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 Special Supervision Division, MS 6-4 250 E Street, SW, Washington, DC 20219 Fax: (202) 874-5214 Internet: https://www.occ.gov
For additional information regarding other types of financial fraud, please visit the OCC's anti-fraud resource page.
Richard C. Stearns Director for Enforcement & Compliance
