Alert 2006-15
ALERT

    Subject:  Counterfeit Official Checks
Description:  Unity National Bank

       Date:  March 22, 2006

TO:  Chief Executive Officers of All National Banks; All State
     Banking Authorities; Chairman, Board of Governors of the
     Federal Reserve System; Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance
     Corporation; Director, Office of Thrift Supervision;
     Conference of State Bank Supervisors; Deputy Comptrollers
     (districts); Assistant Deputy Comptrollers; District
     Counsel; and All Examining Personnel

RE:  Counterfeit Official Checks of Unity National Bank,
     Cartersville, GA
     
     The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit official
     checks issued in the bank's name and using a routing number
     of 0611196000 are being presented nationwide for payment in
     connection with an up-front fee lottery scam.  The
     counterfeit checks are mailed to potential victims with a
     letter notifying the recipient that he or she has won a
     drawing sponsored by either the "Australia Sweepstake
     Lottery / International Programme" or "Sweepstakes Lottery /
     International Program."  The letters are signed by Cando-
     Lisa Jones, General Manager, and provide a contact name of
     Michael Mueller with a telephone number of 1-866-210-6796.
     
     The counterfeit checks may be identified by the following: a
     standard check stock that is blue and white in color.  The
     bank name "Unity National Bank" is located on one line in
     the top-center portion of the check followed by
     "Cartersville GA 30120" on the next line.  The following
     statement is printed in royal blue along the top border of
     the item:  "THE FACE OF THIS CHECK IS PRINTED BLUE - THE
     BACK CONTAINS A SIMULATED WATERMARK."  An incorrect
     fractional routing number of "84-080/611" appears to the
     right of the date, the routing number located at the bottom
     of the check "0611196000" contains one extra zero, and a
     security lock logo is located in the bottom-right area of
     the instrument.  All counterfeit items presented to date
     contain the name of Interstate Management Co, LLC in the
     remitter section, are dated 02/22/2006, and are made payable
     in the amount of $4,800.49.
     
     Authentic official checks issued by the bank are blue in
     color.  The name, address, and telephone number are located
     in the top-center portion of the instrument and take up five
     lines of space.  The dedicated areas to complete for
     remitter--date, pay to the order of, amount, and authorized
     signature--are underscored.  The section indicating the
     numeric dollar amount is enclosed in a rectangular-shaped
     box.
          
     For additional information and guidance or to verify the
     authenticity of Unity National Bank's official checks,
     please contact Hazel Temples, Security Officer, Unity
     National Bank, 950 Joe Frank Harris Parkway SE,
     Cartersville, Georgia  30121, by telephone at (770) 387-
     3019, by fax at (678) 721-4419, or via e-mail at
     [htemples@unitynationalbank.com].  The bank's Web site can
     be found at [www.unitynationalbank.com].
     
     Additional information concerning this matter that you
     believe should be brought to the attention of the OCC may be
     forwarded to:
     
               E-mail:   occalertresponses@occ.treas.gov
                 Mail:   Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
                         Enforcement & Compliance Division, MS 8-10
                         250 E Street, SW, Washington, DC   20219
                  Fax:   (202) 874-5301
             Internet:   http://www.occ.treas.gov

     For additional information regarding other types of
     financial fraud, please visit the OCC's anti-fraud resource
     at:  http://www.occ.treas.gov/fraudresources.htm.


Brian C. McCormally
Director for Enforcement & Compliance