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Alert 2007-15 | March 21, 2007
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Chief Executive Officers of All National Banks; All State Banking Authorities; Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; Director, Office of Thrift Supervision; Conference of State Bank Supervisors; Deputy Comptrollers (districts); Assistant Deputy Comptrollers; District Counsel; and All Examining Personnel
The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit cashier's checks issued in the bank's name and using a correct routing number of 104102309 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a lottery scam.
Counterfeit items do not resemble authentic items and may be identified by the following: checks are pink in color and contain the following statement in the top border of the instrument: "THIS CHECK IS VOID WITHOUT A COLORED BORDER AND BACKGROUND PLUS A KNIGHT & FINGERPRINT WATERMARK ON THE BACK – HOLD AT AN ANGLE TO VIEW." The instrument contains a circular-shaped logo in the upper-left corner followed by the bank name and address of "126 Center Ave, Scottsbluff, NE 69363." The following statement is contained within the bottom border: "ABSENCE OF PINK U.S. PATENT NUMBERS UNDER SIGNATURE INDICATES CHECK IS FRAUDULENT. PATENT NUMBERS ARE PRINTED WITH HEAT SENSITIVE INK & WILL DISAPPEAR WHEN BLOWING OR RUBBING."
Items presented to date have been made payable in the amount of $3,700, have been dated 10/27/06, and are missing the words "Cashier's Check." Due to possible variations of appearance, it is suggested that Platte Valley National Bank officials be contacted to verify authenticity of the bank's official items if received from an unknown or questionable source.
Correspondence accompanying the checks may contain the letterhead of "Coast Financial Holdings, Inc., World Lottery Association." The letter claims an association to the "International Lotto Corporation" and alerts the recipient that he or she is the winner of an unclaimed prize and should contact the office immediately. The recipient is advised to keep all information confidential and is encouraged to act by a specific date or the winnings will be forfeited. Recipients are to contact Luis Hunter at 1-778-891-5867 (a Canadian telephone number). The correspondence may be signed by "Robert A. Thom, Head Financial coordinator." Note that the "c" in the word "coordinator" appears in lower-case.
For additional information and guidance and to verify the authenticity of Platte Valley National Bank's cashier's checks, please contact Barb Gorr, AVP/Operations, 1212 Circle Drive, PO Box 2308, Scottsbluff, NE 69363, by telephone at (308) 635-2073, by fax at (308) 632-7613, or via email at [bgorr@pvnbank.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.
/signed/
Richard C. Stearns Director for Enforcement & Compliance
