| RE: |
Counterfeit Cashier’s Checks of Hilltop National Bank, Casper, Wyoming
The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit cashier’s checks issued in the bank’s name and using a correct routing number of 102301199 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a sweepstakes scam.
The counterfeit checks do not resemble the bank’s authentic items, and may be identified by the following traits: the instruments are of unknown color and include the following security statement in the top border: “THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK PRINTED ON THE BACK, HOLD AT AN ANGLE TO VIEW.” The bank name and address may be found in the top-left corner of the check, the words “CASHIER’S CHECK” are located in the top-right portion of the item, and the payee information is printed in the bottom-left section.
Items presented to date have been made payable in the amount of $2,170.82 and do not contain the bank’s logo.
Due to possible variations between the appearance of the bank’s authentic items and the counterfeit items associated with differing scams, officials of Hilltop National Bank suggest they be contacted to verify authenticity of the bank’s official items if received by an unknown individual or entity.
Correspondence accompanying the counterfeit checks may contain the letterhead of “EASNER SOLUTIONS, 62 Townline, Orangeville, ON L9W 1V6” and may be signed by Carson Bahns, Award Dispatch Manager. The correspondence informs the recipient that he or she has been selected as a winner in a sweepstakes give-away. The letter states that the enclosed check is to be used to pay for a surety bond certificate, which is mandatory in order to collect the winnings. The surety bond is to be obtained from Old Lane Bonding Company (OLBC). Recipients are instructed to contact George Willson at OLBC via telephone at 1-647-219-5594.
For additional information and guidance, and to verify the authenticity of Hilltop National Bank’s checks, please contact Wil C. Durham, Senior Vice President, Hilltop National Bank, 300 Country Club Road, Casper, WY 82609, by telephone at (307) 265-2740, by fax at (307) 577-3485, or via e-mail at [wil.durham@hilltopnationalbank.com].
Consumers who receive a counterfeit or fictitious item and associated material should file complaints with the following agencies, as appropriate:
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Federal Trade Commission (FTC): by telephone at 1-877-FTC-HELP or, for filing a
complaint electronically, via the FTC’s Web site at
www.ftc.gov.
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Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Canadian scams): by telephone at 1-888-495-8501
or via e-mail at [info@phonebusters.com]. Their Web site,
www.phonebusters.com, provides additional contact numbers.
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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 international Web site
www.bbb.org offers contact information for local BBBs, objective
reports on more than two million businesses, consumer scam alerts, and tips on
a wide variety of topics that help consumers find trustworthy businesses and
make wise purchasing decisions.
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Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Internet Fraud Complaint Center (scams
that may have originated via the Internet) at
www.ic3.gov/.
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If correspondence is received via the U.S. Postal Service, contact the U.S.
Postal Inspector Service by telephone at 1-888-877-7644, 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 e-mail at https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/MailFraudComplaint.aspx.
Additional information concerning this matter that you believe should be brought
to the attention of the OCC may be forwarded to:
For additional information regarding other types of financial fraud, please
visit the OCC’s anti-fraud resource at:
http://www.occ.treas.gov/fraudresources.htm.
/signed/
Richard C. Stearns
Director for Enforcement & Compliance
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