An official website of the United States government
Alert 2007-46 | July 31, 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 checks purportedly drawn on a commercial account of Rotenberg & Co., LLP, but actually drawn on the bank’s general ledger account used for money orders, are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a lottery scam.
The counterfeit items may be identified by the following: the checks are of unknown color, contain the bank's name and logo in the top-center portion of the instrument, and include the business name and address of Rotenberg & Co., LLP in the upper-left corner of the check. The abbreviated routing number is printed directly beneath the bank's address, and the following security statement is printed in the top border: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK." The counterfeit items are missing the words "BANK MONEY ORDER," do not contain a memo line, and include only one signature line.
Items presented to date have been made payable in the amount of $4,833.00 and contain an authorized signature of Sanford Jamal. Due to possible variations of appearance of the counterfeit items, it is suggested that officials of Canandaigua National Bank & Trust be contacted to verify authenticity of similar checks, if received from an unknown or questionable source.
Correspondence accompanying the counterfeit items may contain the letterhead of "Acclaimed Game Services, 15 Mermaid Lane, Toronto, C1A 7J8, Ontario, Canada." The letter alerts the recipient that he or she is the winner of an unclaimed prize of the North-American Sweepstakes Lottery and instructs the recipient to contact claim agent Stan Johnson at 1-416-835-5733 within 14 days or the money will be forfeited. Note that this telephone number originates in Toronto. The letter further states that the enclosed check is to be used "…to pay for the applicable under-writer charges and non-resident tax on your winnings." The letter may be signed by Dr. Mary Saplopolous, Promotion Manager.
For additional information and guidance or to verify the authenticity of Canandaigua National Bank & Trust’s official items, please contact Kathleen A. Housel, Fraud Prevention Specialist, 72 South Main Street, Canandaigua, NY 14424, by telephone at (585) 393-6050, by fax at (585) 394-4001, or via email at [khousel@cnbank.com]. Rotenberg & Co., LLP is a legitimate public accounting firm, which is located in Rochester, NY. They have been advised by the bank of the fraudulent use of the firm’s name in relation to this scam and the counterfeit instruments. Any questions related to the company and this situation may be directed to Thom Engler, Managing Partner, 1870 Winton Road, South, Rochester, NY 14618, by telephone at (585) 295-0545, by fax at (585) 295-0645, or via email at [tenglert@rotenbergllp.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.
Richard C. Stearns Director for Enforcement & Compliance
