Counterfeit Cashier’s Checks of The First National Bank of Weatherford, Weatherford, Texas

Alert 2014-23

Counterfeit Cashier's Checks

Date: April 30, 2014

Description: The First National Bank of Weatherford

Counterfeit Cashier's Checks of The First National Bank of Weatherford, Weatherford, Texas

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; 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 111901988 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a mystery shopping scam.

The counterfeit checks do not resemble the bank's authentic checks. The counterfeit items may be identified by the following traits:

- The checks are blue with black print.

- The following security statement appears in the top border in blue ink: "WARNING: THIS DOCUMENT HAS SECURITY FEATURES IN THE PAPER."

- The following address appears next to the bank's name in the top-center portion of the check: "P.O. Box 730, Weatherford, TX 76086."

- The remitter section is in the top-left corner of the check.

- The check number is printed twice in the top-right corner of the check.

- The following statement is printed beneath the payable amount: "NOTICE TO CUSTOMERS: THE PURCHASE OF AN INDEMNITY BOND WILL BE REQUIRED BEFORE ANY OFFICIAL CHECK OF THIS BANK WILL BE REPLACED OR REFUNDED IN THE EVENT IT IS LOST, MISPLACED OR STOLEN. VOID AFTER 90 DAYS."

- The words "Cashier's Check" appear to the right of the notice. The memo line appears below the notice.

Counterfeit checks presented to date have been made payable in varying amounts, have been dated April 17, 2014, and have contained these remitter names: Nicole Pugh, David Scott, or Dennis Schmid.

Correspondence related to this scam has been generated under the following names:

- MS Recruitment, using the e-mail address of [[email protected]].

- David Scott, using the e-mail addresses of either [[email protected]] or [[email protected]]. The instruction letter includes a telephone number of (315) 215-1583.

- Kenny Robert, using the e-mail address of [[email protected]].

- Thomas Green, using the e-mail address of [[email protected]]. The instruction letter includes a "text only" telephone number of (323) 388-3721.

The correspondence differs slightly; however, all correspondence explains that recipients are to use most of the funds from the cashier's checks to purchase Money Pak cards or wire transfer services.

Please review the attached sample mystery shopper scam correspondence for further details.

For additional information and to verify the authenticity of cashier's checks drawn on First National Bank of Weatherford, please contact Cashier Debbie Rowe by mail at P.O. Box 730, 220 Palo Pinto St., Weatherford, TX 76086; by telephone at (817) 598-4918; by fax at (817) 598-4901; or by e-mail at [email protected].

Consumers who receive counterfeit or fictitious items and associated material should file complaints with the following agencies, as appropriate:

- Federal Trade Commission (FTC): by telephone at (877) FTC-HELP or, for filing a complaint electronically, via the FTC's Web site at http://www.ftc.gov.

- 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 Web site http://www.bbb.org/ 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). Its Web site is http://www.ic3.gov/.

- 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 at https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/MailFraudComplaint.aspx.

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

See original table at: http://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/alerts/2014/alert-2014-23.html

For additional information regarding other types of financial fraud, please visit the OCC's anti-fraud resources page at http://www.occ.gov/topics/consumer-protection/fraud-resources/index-fraud-resources.html.

Ellen M. Warwick

Director for Enforcement and Compliance

Related Link

- Sample Mystery Shopper Scam Correspondence (http://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/alerts/2014/alert-2014-23a.pdf) (PDF)