Counterfeit Official Checks of Ruby Valley National Bank, Twin Bridges, Mont.

Alert 2014-29

Counterfeit Official Checks

Date: September 5, 2014

Description: Ruby Valley National Bank

Counterfeit Official Checks of Ruby Valley National Bank, Twin Bridges, Mont.

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 official checks using a correct routing number of 092005411 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a research evaluation scam.

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

- The check does not contain any borders and has a padlock icon in the bottom-right corner.

- The words "Official Check" are located in the top-center portion of the check.

- The words "PAYABLE THROUGH FIRST INTERSTATE BANK, BILLING, MT" appear in the bottom-left corner of the check.

- Checks contain an authorized signature of "W Charleston."

Counterfeit checks presented to date have been made payable in the amount of $2,260 and contain a remitter name of Charles Maine.

Correspondence related to the scam contains the letterhead of "FLM Research Co., 2029 Century Park E #1120, Los Angeles, CA 90036, (413) 471-9361, [www.flmresearch.com], [[email protected]]."

The correspondence instructs the recipient to e-mail Charles Maine at the e-mail address noted above for further instruction regarding the evaluation assignment.

For additional information and to verify the authenticity of official checks drawn on Ruby Valley National Bank, please contact Bank Secrecy Act Officer Linda Maddox by mail at P.O. Box 417, Twin Bridges, MT 59754; by telephone at (406) 842-5411; by fax at (406) 842-5570; 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 (http://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/).

- National Consumers League (NCL): by telephone at (202) 835-3323 or by e-mail (http://www.nclnet.org/contact_us). To file a fraud complaint, visit the NCL fraud Web site (http://www.fraud.org/" target="_blank").

- 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/" target="_blank") 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 (http://www.ic3.gov/) (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 (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

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

http://www.occ.gov/index.html

[email protected]

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

Ellen M. Warwick

Director for Enforcement and Compliance

Related Link

- Sample Research Evaluation Scam Correspondence (http://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/alerts/2014/2014-29a.pdf) (PDF)