Counterfeit Cashier’s Checks of Extraco Banks, NA, Temple, Texas

The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit cashier's checks issued in the bank's name and using a correct routing number of 111900581 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a potential variety of internet scams, including babysitter/nanny service requests.

The counterfeit items can be identified by several features. The payee information appears to be entered with a typewriter rather than by a printer, the bank number is shown as 88-58/1149, and there are asterisks in the numerical payment amount of the check between the dollar sign and actual numbers.

Items presented to date have been made payable for varying amounts between $1,950 and $3,400 and have contained remitter names of James E. Schwertner, Sara Pearson, Reconcept Inc, or R.M.C. Inc.

For additional information and guidance and to verify the authenticity of Extraco Bank, N.A.'s cashier's checks, please contact Marisa Truelove, Vice President/Deposit Operations by mail at 18 S. Main, PO Box 6101, Temple, Texas 76503-6101, by telephone at (254) 774-5521, by fax at (254) 774-5590, or via e-mail at mtruelove@extracobanks.com.

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 (382-4357) or, for filing a complaint electronically, via the FTC's Web site at www.ftc.gov.
• Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA): Businesses often arrange for mystery shoppers through independent companies, many of which are members of the MSPA. To verify the legitimacy of an organization, visit www.mysteryshop.org.
• 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 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 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 Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) may be forwarded to:

E-mail: occalertresponses@occ.treas.govMail: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
Special Supervision Division, MS 2-7
250 E St. SW, Washington, DC 20219Fax: (202) 874-5214Internet: 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.

Richard C. Stearns
Director for Enforcement & Compliance