Counterfeit Cashier’s Checks of Platte Valley National Bank, Scottsbluff, NE

Subject: Counterfeit Cashier's Checks Description: Platte Valley National Bank Date:March 21,2007 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 Personnel RE: Counterfeit Cashier's Checks of Platte Valley National Bank, Scottsbluff, NE

The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit cashier's checks issued in the bank's name and using a correct routing number of 104102309 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a lottery scam.

Counterfeit items do not resemble authentic items and may be identified by the following: checks are pink in color and contain the following statement in the top border of the instrument: “THIS CHECK IS VOID WITHOUT A COLORED BORDER AND BACKGROUND PLUS A KNIGHT & FINGERPRINT WATERMARK ON THE BACK – HOLD AT AN ANGLE TO VIEW.” The instrument contains a circular-shaped logo in the upper-left corner followed by the bank name and address of “126 Center Ave, Scottsbluff, NE 69363.” The following statement is contained within the bottom border: “ABSENCE OF PINK U.S. PATENT NUMBERS UNDER SIGNATURE INDICATES CHECK IS FRAUDULENT. PATENT NUMBERS ARE PRINTED WITH HEAT SENSITIVE INK & WILL DISAPPEAR WHEN BLOWING OR RUBBING.”

Items presented to date have been made payable in the amount of $3,700, have been dated 10/27/06, and are missing the words “Cashier's Check.” Due to possible variations of appearance, it is suggested that Platte Valley National Bank officials be contacted to verify authenticity of the bank's official items if received from an unknown or questionable source.

Correspondence accompanying the checks may contain the letterhead of “Coast Financial Holdings, Inc., World Lottery Association.” The letter claims an association to the “International Lotto Corporation” and 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 Luis Hunter at 1-778-891-5867 (a Canadian telephone number). The correspondence may be signed by “Robert A. Thom, Head Financial coordinator.” Note that the “c” in the word “coordinator” appears in lower-case.

For additional information and guidance and to verify the authenticity of Platte Valley National Bank's cashier's checks, please contact Barb Gorr, AVP/Operations, 1212 Circle Drive, PO Box 2308, Scottsbluff, NE 69363, by telephone at (308) 635-2073, by fax at (308) 632-7613, or via e-mail at [bgorr@pvnbank.com].

Consumers who receive a counterfeit item and associated material should file complaints with the following agencies:

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC): by telephone at 1-877-FTC-HELP or, for filing a complaint electronically, via the FTC's Internet 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 – 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.
• 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://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/fraud/MailFraudComplaint.htm

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.treas.gov

For 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. Stearns
Director for Enforcement & Compliance