Counterfeit Treasurer’s Checks of United Bank, West Springfield, Mass.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury'sOffice of the Comptroller of the Currency issued the following alert:

Subject: Counterfeit Treasurer's Checks

Date: February 20, 2014

Description: United Bank

Counterfeit Treasurer's Checks of United Bank, West Springfield, Mass.

To: Chief Executive Officers of All National Banks and Federal Savings Associations; All State Banking Authorities; Chairman, 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 two different versions of counterfeit checks, both using a correct routing number of 211872027, are being presented for payment nationwide. These payments are in connection with a variety of Internet overpayment scams.

While the counterfeit checks may resemble the bank's authentic checks, counterfeit items may be identified by several traits:

The checks are blue in color, and the logo appears in blue lettering with a black background.

The following security statement is located in the top border: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK."

The words "TREASURER'S CHECK" or "CASHIER'S CHECK" may appear in the top-center portion of the check.

The bank's abbreviated routing number located in the top-center portion of the check appears as 53-7202/2110.

The reverse side of the check includes a security feature box and padlock icon.

The authorized signature appears as "Michell Winer."

Counterfeit checks presented to date have been made payable in varying amounts between $2,400 and $4,900 and may contain remitter names of Kyle J Hagen, Tom Linkous, and Mark Hartsell.

For additional information and to verify the authenticity of United Bank's treasurer's checks, please contact Security Officer Victoria Graffam by mail at 95 Elm St., West Springfield, MA 01089; by telephone at (413) 787-1700, ext. 1215; by fax at (413) 788-3370; 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 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 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 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

E-mail: [email protected]

Mail: 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

Internet: www.occ.gov

For additional information regarding other types of financial fraud, please visit the OCC's anti-fraud resource page at www.occ.gov/fraudresources.htm. Ellen M. Warwick

Director for Enforcement and Compliance

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