An official website of the United States government
Alert 2007-24 | April 23, 2007
Share This Page:
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 031308535 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a lottery scam.
While the counterfeit items resemble the authentic items, the counterfeit checks may be identified by the following: the instruments may be brown, yellow, or green in color with a dark top border, which contains the following statement: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK."
Items presented to date have been made payable in the amount of $4,750.00 and contain a remitter name of "Felicia Ferreira." Due to possible variations of appearance, it is suggested that The Honesdale National Bank 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 "Ocean Ontario Lottery Gaming Corporation, 25 Capital Drive, Nepean, Ont. K2G OE9." The letter alerts the recipient that he or she is the winner of an unclaimed prize sponsored by "North-American Sweepstakes Lottery." Prior to negotiating the enclosed check, recipients are instructed to contact one of the following claim agents: Robert Bell at (902) 412-9354, Emily Lewis at (902) 412-9361, Michael Jones at (902) 412-9365, Carol Gates at (902) 412-9367, or Mark Spencer at (902) 412-8838 (all telephone numbers originate out of Nova Scotia). The letter further states that the enclosed check is to be used to pay for applicable taxes on the winnings. In addition, the writer explains that the tax amount is to be paid via Western Union or Moneygram. The correspondence is signed by Willis T. Marshall, Promotion Manager.
For additional information and guidance and to verify the authenticity of Honesdale National Bank's cashier's checks, please contact the bank's Bookkeeping Department at 724 Main Street, Honesdale, PA 18431, by telephone at (570) 253-3355, by fax at (570) 251-9519, or via email at [kenslin@hnbbank.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
