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Alert 2013-23 | November 12, 2013

Counterfeit Cashier's Checks: First National Bank Albany/Breckenridge, Albany, Texas

To

Chief Executive Officers of All National Banks and Federal Savings Associations; All State Banking Authorities; Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; Conference of State Bank Supervisors; Deputy Comptrollers (Districts); Assistant Deputy Comptrollers; District Counsels; and All Examining Personnel

The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit cashier’s checks using a correct routing number of 111909663 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a mystery shopping scam as well as online auctions.

The counterfeit checks closely resemble the bank’s authentic items but may be identified by the following: Counterfeit items contain a dark top border with the following security statement: “THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK.” Items presented to date in reference to the mystery shopping scam have contained a remitter name of Thompson Cleaver and are made payable in the amount of $1,850.

Correspondence accompanying the mystery shopping scam checks are signed by a Dr. Robert Walton and contain contact emails of evaluation-service@outlook.com and evaluation.shopping@globomail.com. The letter explains that the recipient is to use the majority of the funds to send a wire transfer to a specific individual and to use a small amount of the funds to shop at a local Walmart store.

For additional information and guidance and to verify the authenticity of First National Bank Albany/Breckenridge’s cashier’s checks, please contact Compliance Officer Sharon Pendleton at 101 E. Walker St., Breckenridge, TX 76424; by telephone at (254) 559-2222, Ext. 14; by fax at (254) 559­9805, or by email at spendleton@fnbab.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.

Ellen M. Warwick
Director for Enforcement and Compliance

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