Alert 2005-12
ALERT

Subject:        Fraudulent Regulatory Agency Issuances
Description:  Attributed to Officials Fraudulent E-mails of the 
                    Office of the Comptroller of the  Currency

Date:            July 19, 2005

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; Conference of State Bank Supervisors; Deputy
     Comptrollers (districts); Assistant Deputy Comptrollers;
     District Counsel and Examining Personnel

RE:  Fraudulent e-mails regarding the release of funds supposedly
      under the control of Office of the Comptroller of the Currency 
      (OCC) officials.

     Please be advised that e-mails allegedly issued by the OCC
     regarding restricted funds supposedly under its control
     continue to circulate.  Any e-mails or other documents
     claiming that the OCC is holding, or has placed a hold on,
     any funds for the benefit of any individual or entity are
     fraudulent.  The OCC does not participate in the transfer of
     funds for, or on behalf of, individuals, business
     enterprises, or governmental entities.  Additionally, the
     OCC does not establish, maintain, or control any deposit
     accounts for, or in the name of, any individuals,
     businesses, or governments.
     
     The e-mails in question, which contain forged signatures of
     actual OCC officials, falsely claim that the OCC or other
     federal bank regulatory agency is holding payments owed by
     foreign governments or foreign organizations.  The e-mails
     encourage the recipient to reply to a hyperlink (e-mail)
     address so that the funds can be released, warning that a
     delay in responding might cause the OCC to cancel the
     obligations due to the recipient.  Of course, the hyperlink,
     as well as telephone and facsimile numbers contained in the
     e-mail, are not those of any OCC office or official.
     
     These e-mails are originating from many sources throughout
     the world. They appear  similar to documents referenced in
     previous OCC alerts.  See also OCC Alerts
     2004-3, 2004-11, and 2001-5 and their attachments.
     
     Before responding in any manner to any proposal supposedly
     issued by the OCC that requests personal information or
     personal account information, or that requires the payment
     of any fee in connection with the proposal, you should take
     steps to verify that the proposal is legitimate.  At a
     minimum, the OCC recommends that you:

     *  Contact the OCC directly to verify the legitimacy of the
       proposal, either: (1) by using the Internet (using the OCC's Web
       address, found at http://www.occ.treas.gov); (2) by mail to the
       OCC's Enforcement & Compliance (E&C) Division, 250 E Street, SW;
       Mail Stop 8-10, Washington, DC 20219, Attn: E&C Division
       Director; (3) by using the E&C Division's facsimile number, (202)
       874-5301; or (4) by calling the E&C Division, (202) 874-4800;
       
     *  Do not rely upon the contact information contained in the 
         e-mail in determining whether or not a proposal is legitimate;
       
     *  Review the OCC alerts and related information, which can be
       accessed on the OCC's Web site (again, at
       http://www.occ.treas.gov) under the subdirectory labeled
       "Issuances;" and
     
     *  If the proposal appears to be fraudulent, and the proposal
       was received by either e-mail or the Internet, please report the
       incident to the Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC).  Please
       go to the IFCC Web site at http://www.ifccfbi.gov/ and follow the
       instructions for filing a complaint.

     Any information regarding the subject of this or any other
     alert that you wish to bring to the attention of the OCC may
     be sent to occalertresponses@occ.treas.gov.


     ______________________________
     Brian C. McCormally
     Director
     Enforcement & Compliance Division