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Alert 2015-10 | July 28, 2015
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Chief Executive Officers of All National Banks and Federal Savings Associations; All State Banking Authorities; Chair, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; Conference of State Bank Supervisors; Deputy Comptrollers (Districts); Assistant Deputy Comptrollers; District Counsels; and All Examining Personnel
The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit cashier’s checks using a correct routing number of 114904953 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with mystery shopping scams.
The counterfeit checks resemble the bank’s authentic checks; the counterfeit checks, however, may be identified by the following traits:
Counterfeit checks presented to date have been made payable in the amounts of $1,545 and $2,865 and contain purchaser names of either Christopher Drake or Veronica Branton.
Potential victims of this scam are initially contacted via email by John Maxwell regarding a job offer as a mystery shopper. Email addresses associated with the scammer include [chowderheadsmith@aol.com] and [johnmaxwell2133@gmail.com].
Once the offer is accepted, potential victims receive a correspondence package in the mail. Letters accompanying the checks instruct the potential victim to immediately deposit the check into his or her bank account. The potential victim is further instructed to retain $200 as a commission payment, use $10 to purchase a cashier’s check to be scanned to the scammer, use $10 to purchase items from a well-known chain store, and wire transfer the balance of the funds to a third party. The letters ask for transfer details and evaluation forms to be emailed to [christdrake01@gmail.com] or [johnmaxwell2133@gmail.com].
For additional information and to verify the authenticity of cashier’s checks drawn on First National Bank of Bastrop, please contact Security Manager Nicole Herring by mail at P.O. Drawer F, Bastrop, TX 78602; by telephone at (512) 321-6177; or by email at nherring@fnbbastrop.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.
Daniel P. Stipano Deputy Chief Counsel
