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Alert 2008-14
Subject: Fictitious Official Checks
Date: February 20, 2008 Description: First National Bank of Weatherford
Fictitious Official Checks of First National Bank of Weatherford, Weatherford, TXTo: 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 The above-named bank has reported that fictitious official checks issued in the bank’s name and using the bank’s correct routing number of 111910267 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a mystery shopping scam. These items are fictitious, as the First National Bank of Weatherford does not issue official checks. Checks presented to date have been made payable in the amounts of $3,875 and $3,950 and may include a remitter name of “CSS.” Due to possible variations in appearance of the bank’s official items and scams, it is suggested that officials of the First National Bank of Weatherford be contacted to verify authenticity of any of the bank’s official items, if received from an unknown or questionable source. The mystery shopper correspondence may contain the letterhead of “COMPARISON SHOPPING SOLUTIONS, PO Box 4800, Wildwood, NJ 08280, Tel: 1-905-920-5618, Fax: 1-888-380-8459.” Note that the telephone number provided originates out of Hamilton, Ontario. The correspondence informs the recipient that he or she has been selected to be a secret shopper for the company. It explains that the enclosed check is to be used to purchase merchandise at various nationally known merchants as well as to transfer money using a nationally known wire service. The funds to be spent at each location are broken down by a specific dollar amount, with the shopper being allotted the remaining funds as payment for their mystery shopper service. The letter may be signed by Cathy Bradley. For additional information and guidance and to verify the authenticity of the First National Bank of Weatherford’s official items, please contact Linda Swackhammer, Compliance Officer, P.O. Box 730, 220 Palo Pinto Street, Weatherford, TX 76086, by telephone at (817) 598-4926, by fax at (817) 598-4901, or via e-mail at [lswackhammer@fnbweatherford.com]. Consumers who receive a counterfeit or fictitious item and associated material should file complaints with the following agencies, as appropriate:
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.gov/topics/consumer-protection/fraud-resources/index-fraud-resources.html. /signed/ Richard C. Stearns |