Counterfeit Cashier’s Checks of The Honesdale National Bank, Honesdale, PA

Subject: Counterfeit Cashier's Checks Description: The Honesdale National Bank Date:April 23,2007 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 PersonnelRE: Counterfeit Cashier's Checks of The Honesdale National Bank, Honesdale, PA

The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit cashier's checks issued in the bank's name and using a correct routing number of 031308535 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a lottery scam.

While the counterfeit items resemble the authentic items, the counterfeit checks may be identified by the following: the instruments may be brown, yellow, or green in color with a dark top border, which contains the following statement: “THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK.”

Items presented to date have been made payable in the amount of $4,750.00 and contain a remitter name of “Felicia Ferreira.” Due to possible variations of appearance, it is suggested that The Honesdale National Bank 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 “Ocean Ontario Lottery Gaming Corporation, 25 Capital Drive, Nepean, Ont. K2G OE9.” The letter alerts the recipient that he or she is the winner of an unclaimed prize sponsored by “North-American Sweepstakes Lottery.” Prior to negotiating the enclosed check, recipients are instructed to contact one of the following claim agents: Robert Bell at (902) 412-9354, Emily Lewis at (902) 412-9361, Michael Jones at (902) 412-9365, Carol Gates at (902) 412-9367, or Mark Spencer at (902) 412-8838 (all telephone numbers originate out of Nova Scotia). The letter further states that the enclosed check is to be used to pay for applicable taxes on the winnings. In addition, the writer explains that the tax amount is to be paid via Western Union or Moneygram. The correspondence is signed by Willis T. Marshall, Promotion Manager.

For additional information and guidance and to verify the authenticity of Honesdale National Bank's cashier's checks, please contact the bank's Bookkeeping Department at 724 Main Street, Honesdale, PA 18431, by telephone at (570) 253-3355, by fax at (570) 251-9519, or via e-mail at [kenslin@hnbbank.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