The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit cashier’s checks issued in the bank’s name and using a correct routing number of 114917092 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a lottery scam.

While the counterfeit checks resemble the authentic items, they may be identified by the following: the checks contain the following statement within the top border: “THIS CHECK IS VOID WITHOUT A RED & BLUE BORDER AND BACKGROUND PLUS A KNIGHT & FINGERPRINT WATERMARK ON THE BACK – HOLD AT ANGLE TO VIEW.” The bank’s information noted in the upper-left hand corner of the instrument contains an incorrect zip code of 78665 and does not contain the bank’s telephone number of 830-825-3247. The following statement appears beneath the authorized signature line: “SIGNATURE AREA CONTAINS A KNIGHT & FINGERPRINT CHECK WORDING.”

Items presented to date have been made payable in the amount of $4,600, contain a purchaser name of Milton McFadden, display an 8-digit serial number beginning with the series 3000, and are dated September 20, 2007. Due to possible variations in appearance of the counterfeit items, it is suggested that officials of Cattleman’s National Bank be contacted to verify authenticity of similar checks, if received from an unknown or questionable source.

Correspondence accompanying the counterfeit items may contain the letterhead of “Golden Lottery Gaming Corporation, 18 Lindberg Bay Suite 11, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00802.” The letter alerts the recipient that he or she is the winner of an unclaimed prize and instructs the recipient to contact claim agent Mr. Dan Baker at 1-519-992-0827 by a specific date, or the money will be forfeited. Note that this telephone number originates out of Windsor, Ontario. The letter further states that the enclosed check is to be used to “…pay for the applicable taxes on your winnings.” The recipient is further instructed to deposit the check into their account and pay the tax amount using either MoneyGram or Western Union. The letter may be signed by Charles M. Genkins.

For additional information and guidance, please contact George W. Schuh, Executive Vice President & Controller/Cashier, PO Box 70, Round Mountain, TX 78663, by telephone at (830) 825-3247, or via e-mail at [george@cattlemansnationalbank.com].

Consumers who receive a counterfeit 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 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, 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

          /signed/          

Richard C. Stearns
Director for Enforcement & Compliance