The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit cashier’s checks issued in the bank’s name and using a correct routing number of 041215854 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a mystery shopping scam. 

The counterfeit checks bear no resemblance to the authentic items and may be identified by the following traits:  the instruments are blue in color with black printing, contain a blue Waterford Bank Internet logo in the upper-left corner and a red serial number in the upper-right corner.  The words “CASHIER’S CHECK” are located in the upper-center portion of the check followed by an indemnity statement, and include the following security statement in the top border:  “For security purposes, the face of this check contains a colored background and microprinting in the border.”  The bottom-left section of the item contains the following statement:  “Issued by Waterford Bank, Toledo, OH., For Inquiries, Call:  1-866-464-9835.”  Please note that this telephone number is not associated with the bank.  The following security statement is printed between two padlock icons in the bottom-center section:  “Security Features Included.  Details on Back,” and the statement: “Countersigned if Amount is Over $5,000” appears beneath the signature line. 

Items presented to date have been made payable in the amount of $4,998, include a remitter name of S C Inc, and contain an encoded account number of 5254607121. 

Due to possible variations in the appearance of the bank’s official items and differing scams associated with the counterfeit items, officials of Waterford Bank, N.A. 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 “Shoppers Challenge Inc., Suite 303-115, 115 1st Avenue, Ashley, ND  58413, Tel/Fax #1-800-963-9714.”  A company name of “Shoppers Evaluation, Inc.” is printed in the lower left corner of the letter, which may be signed by Pam Davids, Head Assignment Co-ordinator or Jack Dill, Chief Assignment Co-ordinator.  The correspondence informs the recipient that he or she has been selected to represent the company as a mystery 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 telephone 1-800-963-9714 Ext 102 and then press 1 to connect to a coordinator for detailed instructions. 

For additional information and guidance and to verify the authenticity of Waterford Bank, N.A.’s cashier’s checks, please contact Rick Burkhart, Senior Vice President/CIO, Waterford Bank, N.A., 3900 N. McCord Road, Toledo, OH  43617, by telephone at (419) 720-3547, by fax at (419) 720-3942, or via e-mail at [rick.burkhart@waterfordbankna.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 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/          

Richard C. Stearns
Director for Enforcement & Compliance