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Alert 2007-38 | June 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 122238420 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a lottery scam.
The counterfeit checks resemble the authentic items but may be identified by the following: the instruments may be brown or mauve in color, contain the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" in the upper-left corner of the item, and include the following security statement in the top border: "FOR SECURITY PURPOSES, THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS A COLORED Background AND MICROPRINTING IN THE BORDER." The words "AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE" are found beneath a single signature line in the lower-right corner of the check, and the bottom border includes two padlock icons and the following statement: "SECURITY FEATURES INCLUDED. DETAILS ON BACK." The items do not contain the correct bank contact telephone numbers of "(831) 751-2265 or (877) 886-2265."
The volume of these counterfeit items has increased along with the variation of the appearance of the items. Bank officials, therefore, are encouraged to contact Rabobank, N.A. to verify the authenticity of the item that is being presented.
Correspondence accompanying the counterfeit items may contain the letterhead of "Northwest Financial & Trust Services, North West House, Lyford Cay, P.O. Box N-3229, Nassau, Bahamas, Sponsor: Readers Digest, Publishers Clearing House, Sweepstakes, Lotto – 1-306-351-2387." The letter alerts the recipient that he or she is the winner of an unclaimed prize and instructs the recipient to contact an agent at Northwest Financial & Trust Services at 1-306-351-2387. Note that this is number originates in Canada. The letter further states that the enclosed check is to be used "for the payment of tax and administrative expenses (international clearance fees) and that the recipient is to keep all winning information confidential. The letter may be signed by Philip Dodgers, SR. Director / Claims & Credit Control.
For additional information and guidance, please contact Ebony Strange, Fraud Investigations Officer, Security Department, 1498 Main Street, El Centro, CA 92243, by telephone at (760) 337-7344, by fax at (760) 370-3371 or via email at [Ebony.Strange@Rabobank.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
