Counterfeit Cashier’s Checks of First Financial Bank, N.A., Abilene, Texas

Treasury Department Documents and Publications

() Alert 2015-6

Counterfeit Cashier's Checks

Date: May 28, 2015

Description: First Financial Bank, N.A.

Counterfeit Cashier's Checks of First Financial Bank, N.A., Abilene, 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 111301122 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with an Internet-based employment and overpayment scam.

Two variations of counterfeit checks currently in circulation resemble the bank's authentic checks. The counterfeit checks may be identified, however, by the following traits:

Variation #1

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

- The "I" in the word "FIRST" of the bank's logo is printed in red ink.

- The check number is printed in red ink.

- Checks contain a remitter name of Emilly Mount.

- Checks are made payable in the amount of $2,999.30.

- Checks are signed by "B L McAnally."

Variation #2

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

- The bank's name "First Financial Bank" is printed beneath the payable amount.

- A remitter name of Cora L Teed is printed slightly above the remitter line.

- Checks are made payable in the amount of $2,449.

Neither version of the counterfeit checks contains the bank's telephone number of (325) 627-7000 or Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation membership information.

Potential victims of this scam are contacted via e-mail to earn income by wrapping their vehicles in brand name logo advertisements. Once the assignment is accepted, the potential victim receives payment in the form of a counterfeit check, which is made payable for a higher amount than the salary agreed upon. The recipient is instructed to deposit the check into his or her bank account and immediately send the overpayment portion to a third party by wire transfer.

For additional information and to verify the authenticity of cashier's checks drawn on First Financial Bank, N.A., please contact the bank's Customer Service Department by mail at P.O. Box 701, Abilene, TX 79604; by telephone at (855) 660-5862; by fax at (877) 627-7190; 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/).

- 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 (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

Counterfeit Cashier’s Checks of First Financial Bank, N.A., Abilene, Texas

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