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Alert 2007-54 | August 29, 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 personal money orders issued in the bank’s name and using a correct routing number of 022303659 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a mystery shopping scam.
The counterfeit items may be identified by the following: the money orders are of unknown color, contain the bank’s name and logo in the upper-left portion of the instrument, and include the words "PERSONAL MONEY ORDER" in the top-center area. The logo colors are inverted, as the letters of the logo are black in color, while the oblong enclosure is white. The counterfeit items also contain a black square surrounding the logo.
Items presented to date have been made payable in the amount of $1980.00 and contain an authorized signature of Thomas W. Casey. Due to possible variations of appearance of the counterfeit items and scams, it is suggested that officials of Canandaigua National Bank & Trust be contacted to verify authenticity of the bank’s official items, if received from an unknown or questionable source.
Correspondence accompanying the counterfeit items may contain the letterhead of "LOBMAX SHOPPER PLC, 421 Hubert Ave, Suite 305, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Tel: 1-519-991-0693, Fax: 1-800-894-5975." The letter informs the recipient that he or she has been selected to participate in a paid consumer research program. It is explained that the enclosed money order is to be used to purchase merchandise at various nationally known merchants as well as to transfer money using a nationally known wire service. The funds to be spent at each location are broken down with a specific dollar amount, with the shoppers being allotted a portion as payment for their mystery shopper service. Recipients are instructed to contact the accounts manager for details.
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, by mail at 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].
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
