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Alert 2014-8 | February 5, 2014
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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 two different versions of counterfeit cashier’s checks, both using a correct routing number of 044203850, are being presented for payment nationwide. These payments are being made in connection with a variety of Internet overpayment scams, including but not limited to online auctions and fictitious job opportunities.
While the counterfeit checks resemble the bank’s authentic checks, counterfeit items may be identified by several traits:
Counterfeit cashier’s checks presented to date have been made payable in varying amounts between $1,900 and $3,150 and contain a remitter name of Christina Minton.
Potential victims of the job opportunity scam may be contacted via email by Sartaij Bal [sartaij.bal@gmail.com] and informed that they will receive a check by USPS Priority Mail. Once the checks are received, the recipients are instructed to deposit them into their bank accounts and contact Sartaij Bal for further instructions.
Potential victims of the Internet auction scam have been contacted via text messaging by John Grey with questions regarding the sale of goods that the potential victims have posted online. Once a price has been established, the potential victim is sent a check for a much greater amount than the agreed price. The potential victim is then instructed to wire the balance to a third-party individual.
For additional information and to verify the authenticity of The First National Bank of Wellston’s cashier’s checks, please contact Brenda Branscom by mail at 101 East A Street, Wellston, OH 45692, by telephone at (740) 384-2146, by fax at (740) 384-6925, or by email at bbranscom@fnbwellston.com.
Consumers who receive counterfeit or fictitious items and associated material should file complaints with the following agencies, as appropriate:
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
