Counterfeit Official Checks of Olympia Federal Savings and Loan Association, Olympia, Washington

Alert2012-8Subject: Counterfeit Official Checks
Date: March 12, 2012Description: Olympia Federal Savings and Loan Association

To: Chief Executive Officers of All National Banks and Federal Savings Associations; All State Banking Authorities; Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; Conference of State Bank Supervisors; Deputy Comptrollers (districts); Assistant Deputy Comptrollers; District Counsels; and All Examining Personnel

The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit official checks issued in the bank's name and using a correct routing number of 092005411 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with online employment opportunities.

Counterfeit items resemble the bank's authentic official checks but may be identified by the following: The checks are white in color with green, blue, or brown shaded backgrounds. The lettering is typed in a bold black font, and the checks do not include the bank's telephone number of (360) 275-6001. The instruments do, however, include one of the following security statements along the top border of the instrument: “THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS A TRUE WATERMARK – HOLD TO LIGHT TO VIEW,” “THIS DOCUMENT HAS AN WATERMARK PRINTED ON THE BACK,” and “THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING. REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK.” Items presented to date have been made payable in varying amounts between $2,950 and $7,500. The items also include a remitter name of Amanda Vanwhy.

For additional information and guidance and to verify the authenticity of Olympia Federal Savings and Loan Association official checks, please contact Bobbi Kerr, Vice President/Security Officer, by mail at 421 Capitol Way S., Olympia, WA 98501; by telephone at (360) 754-3400, ext. 1124; by fax at (360) 754-3437; or by e-mail at BKerr@OlyFed.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 (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 (888) 495-8501 or via e-mail at info@phonebusters.com. Its 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 2 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 Internet Crime 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 Inspection Service by telephone at (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 and Compliance