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Alert 2009-15 | September 3, 2009
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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 102301199 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a sweepstakes scam.
The counterfeit checks do not resemble the bank's authentic items, and may be identified by the following traits: the instruments are of unknown color and include the following security statement in the top border: "THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK PRINTED ON THE BACK, HOLD AT AN ANGLE TO VIEW." The bank name and address may be found in the top-left corner of the check, the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" are located in the top-right portion of the item, and the payee information is printed in the bottom-left section.
Items presented to date have been made payable in the amount of $2,170.82 and do not contain the bank's logo.
Due to possible variations between the appearance of the bank's authentic items and the counterfeit items associated with differing scams, officials of Hilltop National Bank suggest they be contacted to verify authenticity of the bank's official items if received by an unknown individual or entity.
Correspondence accompanying the counterfeit checks may contain the letterhead of "EASNER SOLUTIONS, 62 Townline, Orangeville, ON L9W 1V6" and may be signed by Carson Bahns, Award Dispatch Manager. The correspondence informs the recipient that he or she has been selected as a winner in a sweepstakes give-away. The letter states that the enclosed check is to be used to pay for a surety bond certificate, which is mandatory in order to collect the winnings. The surety bond is to be obtained from Old Lane Bonding Company (OLBC). Recipients are instructed to contact George Willson at OLBC via telephone at 1-647-219-5594.
For additional information and guidance, and to verify the authenticity of Hilltop National Bank's checks, please contact Wil C. Durham, Senior Vice President, Hilltop National Bank, 300 Country Club Road, Casper, WY 82609, by telephone at (307) 265-2740, by fax at (307) 577-3485, or via email at [wil.durham@hilltopnationalbank.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.
/signed/
Richard C. Stearns Director for Enforcement & Compliance
