The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit cashier's checks issued in the bank's name and using an incorrect routing number of 021201639 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a lottery scam.

The counterfeit checks have a slight resemblance to the bank's authentic items, and may be identified by the following traits: the instruments are of unknown color, display an account number of 999801 in the MICR line, and include the following security statement centered between two padlock icons along the bottom border of the instrument: "SECURITY FEATURES INCLUDED. DETAILS ON BACK." The abbreviated routing number of 55-169/212 is located to the left of the check serial number in the upper right section of the check, and the word "Purchaser" is displayed in the left center portion of the item.

Items presented to date have been made payable in various amounts between $2,300.80 and $45,900.80 and include a "Purchaser" name of Queens Inc.

Due to possible variations between the appearance of the bank's authentic items and the counterfeit items associated with differing scams, officials of City National Bank of New Jersey suggest they be contacted to verify authenticity of the bank's cashier's checks if received by an unknown individual or entity.

Correspondence accompanying the counterfeit checks may contain the letterhead of "Queens Swiss Lottery UK, Div of Global Finance Inc., 1700 Front Street, Toronto, Ontario M5J2M2" and may be signed by Michael Anderson, Promotion Manager. The correspondence informs the recipient that he or she has been selected as a winner of a lottery draw. The letter states that the enclosed check is to be used to pay all applicable handling fees, taxes, and insurance, and must be deposited in the recipient's account only after speaking to the claims agent. Recipients are instructed to contact Claims Agent Sandra David or Peter Jones at 01-717-785-9602, 01-888-344-0484, or 416-824-7572.

For additional information and guidance, and to verify the authenticity of City National Bank of New Jersey checks, please contact Leonardo Tavares, Compliance Officer, 900 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102, by telephone at (973) 624-0865, ext. 695, by fax at (973) 643-5717, or via e-mail at [Ltavares@citynatbank.com].

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 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 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 http://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:

E-mail: occalertresponses@occ.treas.gov
Mail: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
Special Supervision Division, MS 6-4
250 E Street, SW, Washington, DC 20219
Fax: (202) 874-5214
Internet: http://www.occ.gov

For additional information regarding other types of financial fraud, please visit the OCC's anti-fraud resource at: http://www.occ.gov/topics/consumer-protection/fraud-resources/index-fraud-resources.html.

/signed/

Richard C. Stearns
Director for Enforcement & Compliance

Related Links

• Anti-Fraud Resources