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Alert 2019-5 | May 22, 2019

Counterfeit Cashier's Checks: Counterfeit Cashier's Checks of Farmers & Merchants National Bank, Nashville, Ill.

To

Chief Executive Officers of All National Banks and Federal Savings Associations; All State Banking Authorities; Chair, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Chair, 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 the bank's routing number of 081906275 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a variety of online auction and job opportunity scams.

There are at least four variations of counterfeit checks in circulation. While the counterfeit checks resemble the bank's authentic items, they may be identified by the following traits:

Variation #1

  • The checks are light blue with a white wreath in the center and contain a darker blue border.
  • The top border contains the following security statement: "SECURITY FEATURES INCLUDE TRUE WATERMARK PAPER, MICROPRINT BORDER, HEAT SENSITIVE ICON AND FOIL HOLOGRAM."
  • The bank's logo does not contain the telephone number.
  • The following security statement is located along the right border along with a padlock icon: "Security features included. Details on back."
  • A heat sensitive hologram security feature appears in the bottom center portion of the check.
  • The authorized signature appears as "Anna Wilhelm."
  • The remitter name may be "Mark Rilay."

Variation #2

  • The checks are light blue with a darker blue top and bottom border.
  • The top border contains the following security statement: "THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND ON WHITE PAPER."
  • The bank's logo does not contain the telephone number.
  • The bottom border contains the following security statement: "THE BACK OF THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS CHECK SECURITY WATERMARK AND COIN REACTIVE INK."
  • A heat sensitive key security feature is located in the bottom center portion of the check.
  • The authorized signature appears as "Anna Wilhelm."
  • The remitter name may be "John Nowicki."

Variation #3

  • The checks are white and contain the following security statement in blue in the top border: "WARNING: THIS DOCUMENT HAS SECURITY FEATURES IN THE PAPER."
  • The bank's logo does not contain the telephone number.
  • A padlock icon and security statement appear along the right border.
  • The authorized signature appears as "Anna Wilhelm."
  • The remitter name may be "Janeen Glasco."

Variation #4

  • The checks are of unknown color but contain a marbled background and darker top border.
  • The top border contains the following security statement: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK."
  • The bank's logo does not contain the telephone number.
  • The authorized signature appears as "Anna Wilhelm."
  • The remitter name may be "Cody Miller."

Checks presented to date have been made payable in amounts between $1,450 and $6,850.

For additional information and to verify the authenticity of cashier's checks drawn on Farmers & Merchants National Bank, please contact Chief Financial Officer Kimberly Gill by mail at 120 West St. Louis Street, Nashville, IL 62263, by telephone at (618) 327-2405, by fax at (618) 327-4963, or by email at kgill@fmbnashville.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.

Monica A. Freas
Director for Enforcement and Compliance

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