Counterfeit cashier's checks of BNC National Bank

The above-named bank has reported that at least two variations of counterfeit cashier’s checks using the bank’s vendor routing number of 092005411 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a variety of up-front fee scams.

The counterfeit checks may be identified by the following traits:

• Variation No. 1
  • The check is light blue in color with a marbled background.
  • The check contains a dark top border with the following security statement: “TO VERIFY AUTHENTICITY, SEE REVERSE SIDE FOR DESCRIPTION OF THE 13 SECURITY FEATURES.”
  • A heat-sensitive shield is located in the bottom center portion of the check.
  • The check does not contain the bank’s telephone number of (701) 250-3000.
  • The authorized signature appears as Clark Cooper or Heidi Schwantes.
  • Remitter names may appear as Annette Blair, David Brandon, Raymond W. Hale, Hilbert McNeal, Donald Mitchell, Gary Moore, David A. Peter, Alfred E. Taylor, or Timothy White.
• Variation No. 2
  • The check is light blue in color with a marbled background.
  • The check contains a dark top border with the following security statement: “THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK.”
  • The authorized signature appears as Michael Jackson or Heidi Schwantes.
  • Remitter names may appear as Sissy M. Lundstorm or Alfred E. Taylor.

All checks presented to date have been made payable in varying amounts up to $10,000.

Known scams include the following:

• Secret Shopper—Money Transfer Service
  Potential victims are sent a counterfeit check and told to deposit the funds into his or her bank account. The individual is then instructed to retain a small portion of the deposited funds as payment. The remaining amount is to be used for a small purchase at a well-known department store with the majority of funds to be used to survey the services of a money transfer service. Contact information pertaining to this scam may be [officebox374415@gmail.com] or a text-only number of (213) 935-6713.
• Secret Shoppers—Gift Card
  Potential victims are sent a counterfeit check and told to deposit the funds into his or her bank account. The individual is then instructed to retain a small portion of the deposited funds as a commission. Thirty dollars is to be used to make a small purchase at a well-known department store, with the majority of the funds to be used to purchase a number of gift cards. Once the cards are purchased, the potential victim is then instructed to send photographs of the card numbers to the scammers. Contact information pertaining to this scam may be Sean Walsh, Recruiting Department, Creative Image Associates [sean.walsh@creativeiimage.net].
• Online Auction
  Potential victims have posted items for sale in an online auction and are sent as payment a counterfeit check in an amount greater than the price of the item for sale. The scammer instructs the seller to deposit the funds into his or her bank account and immediately wire the overpayment portion to a third party.