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Alert 2017-5 | May 18, 2017

Counterfeit Cashier’s Checks: Counterfeit Cashier’s Checks of Consumers National Bank, Minerva, Ohio

To

Chief Executive Officers of All National Banks and Federal Savings Associations; All State Banking Authorities; Chair, 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 at least two variations of counterfeit cashier's checks using a correct routing number of 041201143 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a secret shopper scam.

The counterfeit checks may be identified by the following traits:

Variation No. 1

  • The checks presented are white in color with a thin blue border.
  • The top of the check contains a thick blue border with the following security statement: "THIS CHECK IS VOID WITHOUT A COLORED BACKGROUND AND SECURE DOCUMENT WATERMARK ON THE BACK – HOLD AT ANGLE TO VIEW."
  • The remitter name "Bethany Hope Suntheimer" appears under the bank logo.
  • The following statement appears above the dual signature lines in the bottom left portion of the check: "TWO SIGNATURES REQUIRED OVER $5,000."

Variation No. 2

  • The checks presented are light blue in color with a white marbled pattern and blue border.
  • The top of the check contains a thick blue border with the following security statement: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK."
  • The remitter name "John D. Galloway" appears under the bank logo.
  • The following statement appears above the dual signature lines in the bottom left portion of the check: "TWO SIGNATURES REQUIRED OVER $2,500."
  • The amount of the check may exceed $2,500 but contain only one authorized signature.

Potential victims are contacted via email by an individual using the name of Susan Howe and purporting to be a recruitment specialist with "Sights On Service Inc.," a mystery shopping company. If the potential victim accepts the offer, he or she will receive a counterfeit check in the mail along with instructions to deposit the check into his or her bank account and immediately proceed to a money transfer agent location to wire a majority of the funds to a third party.

For additional information and to verify the authenticity of cashier's checks drawn on Consumers National Bank, please contact Dennis Coy, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, by mail at 614 East Lincoln Way, Minerva, OH 44657, by telephone at (330) 868-9086, or by email at dcoy@consumersbank.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.

William Jauquet
Acting Director for Enforcement and Compliance

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