Counterfeit Cashier’s Checks of West Valley National Bank, Avondale, AZ

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 West Valley National Bank, Avondale, AZ

The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit cashier's checks issued in the bank's name and using a correct routing number of 122106222 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a mystery shopping scam.

The counterfeit checks do not resemble the authentic items and may be identified by the following traits: the instruments are of unknown color and contain the words “CASHIER'S CHECK” in the upper-left corner. The bank's logo and name appear in the top-center portion of the check along with a telephone number of 1-888-366-0361. This telephone number is not associated with the bank but rather with the fraudsters. The following security statement is located within the top border of the instrument: “FOR SECURITY PURPOSES THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING IN THE BORDER.” Both the Pay to the Order of and payable dollar amount sections are underscored. The following security statement is located within the bottom border surrounded by padlock icons: “SECURITY FEATURES INCLUDED. DETAILS ON BACK.”

Items presented to date have been made payable in the amount of $4,820, include a remitter name of “Market Vision Inc.,” and include a 9-digit check serial number.

Due to possible variations in the appearance of the bank's official items and differing scams associated with the counterfeit items, officials of West Valley National Bank suggest they be contacted to verify authenticity of the bank's cashier's checks if received from an unknown or questionable source.

Correspondence accompanying the counterfeit checks may contain the letterhead of “Market Vision Inc. Shopping Business Solutions, 283 Orenda Road, Brampton, ON L6T 5S3, Tel/Fax # 1-289-888-2859.” The letter may be signed by Susan Hollands, Human Resources Manager. The correspondence informs the recipient that he or she has been selected to represent the company as a secret shopper. It is explained that the enclosed cashier's check is to be used during the assignment to make purchases at various merchants and to transfer money using a nationally known wire service. Recipients are instructed to contact 1-289-888-2859 Ext 200, press 1, state his or her name, and to wait for the call to be answered. Note that this telephone number originates from Ontario, Canada.

For additional information and guidance and to verify the authenticity of West Valley National Bank's cashier's checks, please contact Nicole Mackesy, Operations, West Valley National Bank, 12725 W. Indian School Road, Ste C-108, Avondale, AZ 85392, by telephone at (623) 536-9862, by fax at (623) 536-8412, or via e-mail at [nmackesy@wvnb.net].

Consumers who receive a counterfeit or fictitious item and associated material should file complaints with the following agencies, as appropriate:

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC): by telephone at 1-877-FTC-HELP or, for filing a complaint electronically, via the FTC's Web 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 (BBB) – 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 http://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.
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Internet Fraud Complaint Center (scams that may have originated via the Internet) at http://www.ic3.gov.
• 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 https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/MailFraudComplaint.aspx.

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/

Daniel P. Stipano
Deputy Chief Counsel