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Alert 2017-3 | March 24, 2017

Counterfeit Cashier’s Checks: Counterfeit Cashier’s Checks of the Oculina Bank, Vero Beach, Fla.

To

Chief Executive Officers of All National Banks and Federal Savings Associations; All State Banking Authorities; Chair, 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 at least two variations of counterfeit cashier’s checks using a correct routing number of 067092556 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with various online job opportunity and auction scams.

The counterfeit checks may be identified by the following traits:

Variation No. 1

  • The checks presented are blue in color with a black and white logo in the upper-left corner.
  • The remitter name “Jake Smith” appears under the bank logo.
  • The following security statement appears in the top border: “WARNING: THIS DOCUMENT HAS SECURITY FEATURES IN THE PAPER.”
  • The words “CASHIER’S CHECK” are located in the lower-left portion of the check.
  • A padlock icon and the words “Security Features” appear along the right border.

Variation No. 2

  • The checks presented are of unknown color.
  • The remitter name “Jim Kirk” appears under the bank logo.
  • The following security statement appears in the top border: “TO VERIFY AUTHENTICITY, SEE REVERSE SIDE FOR DESCRIPTION OF THE 13 SECURITY FEATURES.”
  • The words “CASHIER’S CHECK” are located in the lower-left portion of the check.
  • A heat-sensitive shield is located in the lower-center portion of the check.

Counterfeit checks presented to date have been made payable in varying amounts, contain an authorized signature of “Mel J. Lussent,” and include an incorrect account number with an ending digit of “9.”

For additional information and to verify the authenticity of cashier’s checks drawn on the Oculina Bank, please contact Ryan O’Connor, Compliance Officer, by mail at 4450 24th Ave., Vero Beach, FL 32967; by telephone at (772) 563-2212, Ext. 1115; by fax at (772) 563-4909; or by email at roconnor@oculinabank.com.

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

  • U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Inspector General (OIG): by telephone at (800) 359-3898 or by visiting the OIG website.
  • Federal Trade Commission (FTC): by telephone at (877) FTC-HELP or, for filing a complaint electronically, via the FTC's website.
  • National Consumers League (NCL): by telephone at (202) 835-3323 or by email. To file a fraud complaint, visit the NCL fraud website.
  • 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 website 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 (to report scams that may have originated via the internet).
  • 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 the online complaint form.

Additional information concerning this matter that should be brought to the attention of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) may be forwarded to

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
Special Supervision Division
400 7th St. SW, Suite 3E-218; MS 8E-12
Washington, DC 20219
Phone: (202) 649-6450
Fax: (571) 293-4925
www.occ.gov
occalertresponses@occ.treas.gov

For additional information regarding other types of financial fraud, please visit the OCC's anti-fraud resources page.

Monica A. Freas
Acting Director for Enforcement and Compliance

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