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Alert 2007-1 | January 16, 2007
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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 081205112 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a lottery scam.
While the counterfeit items resemble the authentic checks, counterfeits may be identified by the following traits: the checks may be a light grey in color with a green border or blue in color with a dark blue border. The following statement is contained within the top border: "THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND ON WHITE PAPER AND ORIGINAL DOCUMENT SECURITY SCREEN ON BACK WITH PADLOCK SECURITY ICON." A padlock security icon is present in the right margin of the instrument, and the following words "Authorized Signature" appear beneath the signature line.
Items presented to date have been made payable in the amount of $3,150.00 and contain a remitter name of "Kelly Ditmas" or "Philip Jones." Due to the possible volume and constant variation of counterfeit official items drawn on The First National Bank, approving officials should verify the authenticity of any such check directly with The First National Bank, Vandalia, IL.
Correspondence accompanying the checks may contain the letterhead of "Classic Lotto Commision Inc, 60 Subbase Suite 104, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00802." Note that the word "Commision" is misspelled in the correspondence. The letter alerts the recipient that he or she is the winner of an unclaimed prize and should contact the office immediately. The recipient is advised to keep all information confidential and is encouraged to act by a specific date or the winnings will be forfeited. Recipients are to contact North America claim agent David Johnson at 1-204-951-7980 or David Cohen at 1-204-952-1407 (Canadian telephone numbers) for further instruction. The correspondence may be signed by Margaret Adams.
For additional information and guidance and to verify the authenticity of The First National Bank's cashier's checks, please contact Pam Yates, Vice President & COO by telephone at (618) 283-5261, by fax at (618) 283-1692, or via email at [pyates@thefnb.com].
Consumers who receive counterfeit or fictitious items and associated material should file complaints with the following agencies, as appropriate:
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.
/signed/
Richard C. Stearns Director for Enforcement & Compliance
