Counterfeit Cashier’s Checks: Counterfeit Cashier’s Checks of Bank of Kimberling City, Kimberling City, MO

Metropolitan National Bank has reported that counterfeit cashier's checks issued in the name of Bank of Kimberling City and using a routing number of 081502886 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a variety of Internet purchase scams.

The Bank of Kimberling City was acquired by and merged into Metropolitan National Bank in 2004. At that time, all official bank items bearing the name of Bank of Kimberling City were retired. As such, any item presented bearing the name of Bank of Kimberling City is counterfeit and should not be negotiated.

Items presented to date have been made payable in varying amounts from $3,500 to $5,600, have contained serial numbers 174337 through 174433, and include remitter names of John Powell, Jones Martins, Stephen Jones, or John Smith. Information contained on the check may either be typed or handwritten.

The fraudsters are responding to classified ads posted on the Internet by potential victims and agreeing to purchase the merchandise advertised. Within a day of responding to the ad, the fraudster sends the seller a check for an amount greater than the agreed-upon purchase price. The check is sent via overnight courier or regular mail and may originate out of Canada. The seller is then instructed to deposit the check into their bank account, deduct the money for the sale of the item, and wire the difference to a third party, generally located in another country. The third party is classified by the fraudster as the shipping company responsible for picking up and shipping the merchandise. Once the funds are wired, the fraudster is never heard from again. The check is returned as counterfeit, and the victim is left liable for the entire loss.

For additional information and guidance regarding Bank of Kimberling City's cashier's checks, please contact Alicia Yount, BSA/Security Officer, Metropolitan National Bank, 600 S. Glenstone, PO Box 3840, Springfield, MO 65802, by telephone at (417) 862-2022, by fax at (417) 862-9964, or via email at [ayount@metronationalbank.com].

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.

/signed/

Richard C. Stearns
Director for Enforcement & Compliance