The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit official checks issued in the bank's name and using a correct routing number of 011007092 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a lottery scam.

Counterfeit items may be identified by the following traits: the checks are light brown in color with a dark brown border. The following statement is located in the top border of the item: "THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED Background ON WHITE PAPER AND ORIGINAL DOCUMENT SECURITY SCREEN ON BACK WITH PADLOCK SECURITY ICON." The bank's name and logo are located in the upper-left corner of the check and followed by incorrect information "DIVISION OF THE FARM NATIONAL BANK." The "Issued By:" information contained in the upper-right portion of the check shows the issuer as "Travelers Express Company, Inc., P.O. Box 9476, Minneapolis, MN 56480."

Items presented to date have been made payable in the amount of $3,150, have been dated December 27, 2006, and have included a remitter of Regina Carter.

Correspondence accompanying the checks may contain the letterhead of "Classic Lotto Commision Inc, 60 Subbase Suite 104, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00802." Note that the word "Commision" is misspelled in the correspondence. The letter alerts the recipient that he or she is the winner of an unclaimed prize and should contact the office immediately. The recipient is advised to keep all information confidential and is encouraged to act by a specific date or the winnings will be forfeited. Recipients are to contact North America claim agent Jack Dempsey at 1-204-952-4415 (Canadian telephone number) for further instruction. The correspondence may be signed by Margaret Adams. Note that this is the same letter that was used in a previous scam as reported in Alert 2007-1, which may be viewed at: [http://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/alerts/2007/alert-2007-1.html].

For additional information and guidance and to verify the authenticity of Fairfield National Bank's official checks, please contact Sandy Uhl, Assistant Vice President/Security Officer, Fairfield National Bank, 143 W. Main Street, Lancaster, OH 43130, by telephone at (740) 653-7242, ext. 247, by fax at (740) 653-6573, or via e-mail at [fnbsecurity@fairfieldnationalbank.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