First Federal Savings Bank, Ottawa, Illinois, reports bogus checks

The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit official checks and fictitious cashier’s checks using the bank’s routing number of 271972912 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a variety of online auction overpayment and job opportunity scams.

The bank does not issue cashier’s checks. Therefore, any check drawn upon the bank marked as a “cashier’s check” is fictitious.

There are several variations of counterfeit official checks, which may be identified by the following traits:

• Variation #1
  • The checks may be light blue/gray in color and contain a wreath watermark and heat-sensitive security inlay within the center of the check.
  • The following security statement is located within the top border: “SECURITY FEATURES INCLUDE TRUE WATERMARK PAPER, MICROPRINT BORDER, HEAT SENSITIVE ICON, AND FOIL HOLOGRAM.”
  • The ABA number appears as 70-2912/271.
  • The address located under the bank’s name appears as “8 Dannys Drive, Streator, IL 61364”.
  • The following security statement is along the right border: “Security Features Included. Details on Back.”
  • The authorized signature appears as Laurence E. Bartman.
  • The remitter name may be Marion Gross.
• Variation #2
  • The checks may be light blue/gray in color and contain the following security statement within the top border: “ORIGINAL CHECK HAS MULTIPLE SECURITY FEATURES. SEE BACK FOR DETAILS.”
  • The address located under the bank’s name appears as “A DannyC Drive, Streator, IL 81364.”
  • A heat-sensitive shield is included in the bottom center portion of the check.
  • The authorized signature appears as Laurence E. Bartman.
  • The remitter name may be Maria Moffa.
• Variation #3
  • The checks are of unknown color and contain the following security statement within the top border: “WARNING: THIS DOCUMENT HAS SECURITY FEATURES IN THE PAPER.”
  • The ABA number appears as 70-2912/271.
  • The address located under the bank’s name appears as “8 DannyS Drive, Streator, IL 61364”.
  • The following security statement is along the right border: “Security Features.”
  • The authorized signature appears as Laurence E. Bartman.
  • The remitter name may be Austin Hernandez.

Counterfeit and fictitious checks presented to date have been made payable in varying amounts from $950 to $37,600 and may contain additional remitter names of Lawry Barker, Milana Bash, Daniel Jenkins, Manual Jenkins, Gacqui Mese, Jacquelin Neff, Danielle Reese, Danielle Reeves, or Lisa Touris.