Counterfeit Money Orders: Counterfeit Money Orders of Peoples National Bank of Kewanee, Kewanee, Illinois

The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit money orders issued in the bank’s name and using a correct routing number of 071102487 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with various telephone and Internet purchase scams.

Counterfeit money orders do not resemble the bank’s authentic money orders and may be identified by the following: Counterfeit items are white in color with a blue border and contain the following security statement in the top border of the item: "WARNING: THIS DOCUMENT HAS SECURITY FEATURES IN THE PAPER." The bank’s name and address appear in the top-right corner, the words "Personal Money Order" appear in the top-left corner, and a memo line is located in the lower-left portion of the money order.

For additional information and guidance and to verify the authenticity of Peoples National Bank of Kewanee’s money orders, please contact David M. Sherrard, Compliance Officer, by mail at 207 North Tremont St., P.O. Box 387, Kewanee, IL 61443; by telephone at (309) 853-3333 ext. 132; by fax at (309) 853-1708; or by email at dsherrard@pnb-kewanee.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.

Richard C. Stearns
Director for Enforcement and Compliance