Counterfeit Official Checks of Alliance Bank, NA,Syracuse, NY

Subject: Counterfeit Official ChecksDescription: Alliance Bank, N.A. Date: October 12, 2006 TO: 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 PersonnelRE: Counterfeit Official Checks of Alliance Bank, N.A., Syracuse, NY The above-named bank has reported that counterfeitofficial checks issued in the bank's name and using a correct routing number of 011007092 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with various lottery scams. While the counterfeit items closely resemble authenticitems, they can be identified by the following: thechecks are printed using computer paper which is blueand pink in color. When photocopied, the words "VOID"and "" may appear across the face of the check. In addition, the counterfeit items contain a dark borderalong the top of the check, with the following phrase: "VOID WITHOUT A COLORED BACKGROUND AND AN ARTIFICIALWATERMARK CERTIFICATION SEAL ON THE BACK. HOLD AT ANGLETO VIEW SEAL." Items presented to date have contained6-digit serial numbers beginning with the series of both 227 and 228, use a remitter name of either JenniferCaruso or Lillian McKinney, and have been made payable in the amounts of $2,990 or $3,000. Correspondence accompanying the checks may contain theletterhead of "International Processing Center, 308Richmond Road, Ottawa, ON K2A 0E8" or "Guta FinancialTrust Services, Centerville House, Collins Avenue,PO Box N-7543, Nassau Bahamas." The letters alertsthe recipient that he or she is the winner of anunclaimed prize and should contact claims agent KennyGozie at 613-255-0238 or Norah Williams and Perry Newmanat 403-889-5419. The recipient is informed that theenclosed check is to be used to pay the mandatoryprocessing fees and/or international taxes as wellas the finance charges incurred when wiring backthe said fees. The correspondence is signed by Jennifer Caruso, Accounting Department (InternationalProcessing Center) and Lillian McKinney, DirectorClaims & Credit Control (Guta Financial Trust Services).The volume of these counterfeit items has increasedand the variation of their appearance has becomeconstant. Bank officials, therefore, should verifyany suspicious checks directly with Alliance Bank,N.A.For additional information and guidance and to verifythe authenticity of Alliance Bank, N.A.'s official checks, please contact Shari Gordon, Security Officer, 120 Madison Street, Syracuse, NY 13202, by telephone at(315) 475-4753, by fax at (315) 475-0870, or via e-mail at [sgordon@alliancebankna.com].Additional information concerning this matter that youbelieve 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.treas.govFor additional information regarding other types of financial fraud, please visit the OCC's anti-fraud resource at: http://www.occ.treas.gov/fraudresources.htm. /signed/Richard C. StearnsDirector for Enforcement & Compliance