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Alert 2008-23 | May 28, 2008
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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 111903407 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a mystery shopping scam.
The counterfeit checks bear little resemblance to the authentic items and may be identified by the following: the instruments are blue in color, contain the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" in the upper-center portion 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" and "COUNTERSIGNED" are located beneath signature lines 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."
Items presented to date have been made payable in the amount of $4,998, include the name of "S. F. INC." as the remitter, and contain a 9-digit check serial number. Additionally, the checks contain a fictitious bank telephone number of (888) 715-6635, which is not associated with Comanche National Bank, but rather with the fraudster.
Correspondence accompanying the counterfeit checks may contain the letterhead of "SHOPPING FEEDBACK INC., Suite #105, 160 Main Street, Winfred, SD 57076, Tel/Fax #1-905-699-3915." Note that the telephone number originates in Milton, Ontario. The letter may be signed by Daniel Haskins, Chief Assignment Co-ordinator. The correspondence informs the recipient that he or she has been pre-selected to represent the company as a secret shopper. It is explained that the enclosed cashier's check 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 shopper being allotted the remaining funds as payment for his or her mystery-shopper service. Recipients are instructed to immediately call 1-905-699-3915 (Ext. 102 and then Press 1) to obtain detailed instructions from a coordinator; otherwise, a "stop payment" will be placed on the check.
Due to possible variations in the appearance of the bank's official items and differing scams associated with the counterfeit or fictitious items, officials of Comanche National Bank recommend that any recipient who receives any of the bank's official items from an unknown or questionable source should contact the bank to verify the item's authenticity.
For additional information and guidance, please contact Vicki Tackett, Assistant Vice President/Internal Auditor, Comanche National Bank, 100 E. Central, Comanche, TX 76442, by telephone at (325) 356-7491, by fax at (325) 356-2750, or via email at [vtackett@comanchenational.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
