Counterfeit Cashier’s Checks: Counterfeit Cashier's Checks of Provident Savings Bank, FSB, Riverside, Calif.

The above-named bank has reported that at least seven variations of counterfeit cashier’s checks using a correct routing number of 322270518 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a variety of online secret shopper employment scams.

The counterfeit checks resemble the bank’s authentic checks; the counterfeit checks, however, may be identified by the following traits:

Variation No. 1

• The checks contain the following security statement in the top border: “WARNING: THIS DOCUMENT HAS SECURITY FEATURES IN THE PAPER.”
• The words “Security Features” as well as a padlock icon appear along the right border.
• Checks may be made payable in the amount of $1,815.20 and contain a remitter name of Ben Danny.
• The reverse side of the check contains the following words above the endorsement lines: “PLEASE ENDORSE HERE.”
• A text box including a padlock icon appears beneath the endorsement area and includes security feature details.

Variation No. 2

• The checks contain the following security statement in the top border: “TO VERIFY AUTHENTICITY, SEE REVERSE SIDE FOR DESCRIPTION OF THE 11 SECURITY FEATURES.”
• Checks may be made payable in the amount of $1,998.50 and contain a remitter name of Gail Elis.
• The reverse side of the check contains a DocuGard 04510 Security Features text box beneath the endorsement area.

Variation No. 3

• The checks contain the following security statement in the top border: “ORIGINAL DOCUMENT PRINTED ON CHEMICAL REACTIVE PAPER WITH HEAT SENSITIVE INK HAND ICON AND MICROPRINTED BORDER.”
• The words “SECURITY FEATURES INCLUDED – DETAILS ON BACK” along with a padlock icon appear along the right border.
• Checks may be made payable in the amount of $2,150 and contain a remitter name of Lori Hurst.

Variation No. 4

• The checks do not contain any security statements on the face of the items.
• Checks may be made payable in the amount of $1,986 and contain a remitter name of Richard Coleman.
• The reverse side of the check contains the following words above the endorsement lines: “PLEASE ENDORSE HERE.”
• A text box including a padlock icon appears beneath the endorsement area and includes security feature details. 

Variation No. 5

• The checks contain the following words along the right border of the items: “LaserSecure * Fraud-Resistant Laser Checks.”
• A circular security feature area is located to the right of the authorized signature line. The instructions state to “Rub Here – Ink Disappears.”
• Checks may be made payable in the amount of $1,992 and contain a remitter name of Raymond Kelvin.
• The reverse side of the check contains the following words above the endorsement lines: “WARNING – DO NOT CASH CHECK WITHOUT NOTING SECURITY FEATURES BELOW.”
• A text box including a padlock icon appears beneath the endorsement area and includes security feature details.  

Variation No. 6

• The checks contain the following security statement in the top border: “THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK.”
• Checks may be made payable in the amount of $2,650 and contain a remitter name of Marie Denny.

Variation No. 7

• The checks contain the following security statement in the top border: “THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND ON WHITE PAPER.”
• Checks may be made payable in the amount of $2,950 and contain a remitter name of Lonette Edmund.
• A text box including a padlock icon appears beneath the endorsement area and includes security feature details. 

Other remitter names may include Michael Braine, Ann Lohan, Pat Mack, Leo Vincent, and Jerome Young. Due to possible variations between the appearance of the bank’s authentic items and the counterfeit items associated with the scam, officials of Provident Savings Bank, FSB, suggest they be contacted to verify authenticity of the bank’s cashier’s checks if received from an unknown entity.

Potential victims may be initially contacted by email about an opportunity for mystery shopping employment. The contact name used may be Carl Lincon, who uses the email address [linconcarl@gmail.com].

Samples of letters accompanying the counterfeit checks are attached to this alert.

For additional information and to verify the authenticity of checks drawn on Provident Savings Bank, FSB, please contact the Provident Bank Call Center by mail at 3756 Central Ave., Riverside, CA 92506; by telephone at (800) 442-5201; or by email at www.myprovident.com/contactus.asp. 

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.

Ellen M. Warwick
Director for Enforcement and Compliance

Related Links

• Sample Scam Correspondence - Variation No. 1 (PDF)
• Sample Scam Correspondence - Variation No. 2 (PDF)