RE: |
Counterfeit Cashier’s Checks of First Dakota National Bank, Yankton, SD
The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit cashier’s checks issued in
the bank’s name and using a correct routing number of 091400486 are being
presented for payment nationwide in connection with a lottery scam.
The counterfeit checks do not resemble the authentic items and may be identified
by the following traits: the instruments are of unknown color, contain a dark
scrolling border, and include the words “CASHIER’S CHECK” enclosed within a box
in the top center portion of the check. The following security statement is
contained within the top border: “HOLD DOCUMENT UP TO THE LIGHT TO VIEW TRUE
WATERMARK.” The bank’s name and logo are printed in the lower-left portion of
the check.
Items presented to date have been made payable in the amount of $4,150 and
contain a remitter name of “Steven Kreycik.”
The prize award winner notification correspondence accompanying the checks may
contain the letterhead of “Hallmark Finance, Inc., 1290 Finch Ave., W., Suite
312, North York, Ontario, M3J 3K3.” The recipient is informed of his or her
winning status of a large dollar amount in the North American lottery
sweepstakes drawing. The recipient is informed further that the enclosed check
will be used to pay a one-time tax fee in order to release the money across the
Canadian border and is further instructed to contact claim agent Peter White at
(647) 830-4081 for additional instructions. Please note that this telephone
number originates from Toronto, Ontario. The letter may be signed by Brian Ray,
CEO Hallmark Finance, Inc.
Due to possible variations in the appearance of the bank’s official items and
differing scams associated with the counterfeit items, officials of First
Dakota National Bank suggest they be contacted to verify authenticity of the
bank’s cashier’s checks if received from an unknown or questionable source.
For additional information and guidance and to verify the authenticity of First
Dakota National Bank’s cashier’s checks, please contact Laurie Wiedmeier, CDS
Supervisor, First Dakota National Bank, PO Box 156, 225 Cedar, Yankton, SD
57078, by telephone at (605) 665-4931, or by fax at (605) 665-6403. In Laurie’s
absence, please contact Jack Steiner, Senior Vice President/Audit, at (605)
665-7529, by fax at (605) 665-4983, or via e-mail at
[jsteiner@firstdakota.com].
Consumers who receive a counterfeit or fictitious item and associated material
should file complaints with the following agencies, as appropriate:
Consumers who receive a counterfeit or fictitious item and associated material
should file complaints with the following agencies, as appropriate:
-
Federal Trade Commission (FTC): by telephone at 1-877-FTC-HELP or, for filing a
complaint electronically, via the FTC’s Web site at
www.ftc.gov.
-
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Canadian scams): by telephone at 1-888-495-8501
or via e-mail at [info@phonebusters.com]. Their Web site,
www.phonebusters.com, provides additional contact numbers.
-
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 international Web site
http://www.bbb.org offers contact information for local BBBs, objective
reports on more than two 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 (FBI) Internet Fraud Complaint Center (scams
that may have originated via the Internet) at
http://www.ic3.gov.
-
If correspondence is received via the U.S. Postal Service, contact the U.S.
Postal Inspector Service by telephone at 1-888-877-7644, 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 e-mail at https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/MailFraudComplaint.aspx.
Additional information concerning this matter that you believe should be brought
to the attention of the OCC may be forwarded to:
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.
/signed/
Richard C. Stearns
Director for Enforcement & Compliance
|