An official website of the United States government
Alert 2007-7 | February 7, 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 money orders and cashier’s checks issued in the bank’s name and using a correct routing number 031311807 are being presented nationwide for payment in connection with an Internet purchase overpayment scam
Neither the counterfeit money orders nor the counterfeit cashier’s checks resemble authentic items.
The counterfeit money orders may be identified by the following: a standard check stock of unknown color with a security strip in the top border which states: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK." The bank name and address appear in the lower-left portion of the instrument. The items do not include the bank’s logo nor any security verbiage under the payee line.
The counterfeit cashier’s checks have a strong resemblance to the counterfeit money orders and can be identified by the following: a standard check stock, possibly light blue in color with a marbled background. The words "CASHIER’S CHECK" are located in the upper-left portion of the item followed by a remitter line. The serial number and date are located in the upper-right corner of the check, and the bank name and address appear in the lower-left portion of the instrument. Items may be presented with a remitter name of "KESER MEGAN."
Victims of this overpayment scheme have received the counterfeit items via UPS as payment for merchandise they had personally advertised on CraigsList.com. The counterfeit items are made payable for amounts greater than the sale price of the items being purchased. The con-artist requests the victims to deposit the items into their bank accounts and immediately wire the excess funds to a third party via Western Union.
For additional information and guidance or to verify the authenticity of Peoples National Bank’s money orders, please contact Dawn Price, Bank Secrecy Act Officer, PO Box A, Hallstead, PA 18822, by telephone at (570) 879-2175, by fax at (570) 879-5113, or via email at [dawnp@peoplesnatbank.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
