Alert 2008-16 | February 29, 2008

Counterfeit Cashier's Checks: Counterfeit Cashier's Checks of Merchants National Bank, Hillsboro, OH

To

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 the bank's correct routing number of 042205009 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with an Internet-based overpayment scam.

The counterfeit items are exact replications of the bank's authentic cashier's check. As such, the counterfeit items have no distinguishing features. It is suggested that officials of Merchants National Bank be contacted to verify authenticity of any of the bank's official items, if received from an unknown or questionable source.

For additional information and guidance and to verify the authenticity of Merchants National Bank's cashier's checks, please contact Linda Siders, VP/Cashier, 100 N. High Street, Hillsboro, OH 45133, by telephone at (937) 393-1993, by fax at (937) 393-9425, or via email at [lsiders@merchantsnat.com].

Consumers who receive counterfeit or fictitious items and associated material should file complaints with the following agencies, as appropriate:

U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Inspector General (OIG): by telephone at (800) 359-3898 or by visiting the OIG website.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC): by telephone at (877) FTC-HELP or, for filing a complaint electronically, via the FTC's website.
National Consumers League (NCL): by telephone at (202) 835-3323 or by email. To file a fraud complaint, visit the NCL fraud website.
Better Business Bureau (BBB): The BBB system serves markets throughout Canada, Puerto Rico, and the United States and is the marketplace leader in advancing trust between businesses and consumers. The website offers contact information for local BBBs, objective reports on more than 2 million businesses, consumer scam alerts, and tips on a wide variety of topics that help consumers find trustworthy businesses and make wise purchasing decisions.
Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (to report scams that may have originated via the internet).
If correspondence is received via the U.S. Postal Service, contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service by telephone at (888) 877-7644; by mail at U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Office of Inspector General, Operations Support Group, 222 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 1250, Chicago, IL 60606-6100; or via the online complaint form.

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

Topic(s):

Counterfeit/Stolen Instruments