The above-mentioned bank has reported that counterfeit checks using the bank’s routing number 051403818 are being presented for payment across the country in connection with potentially a variety of employment opportunity fraud, including car wrapping.
Fake checks look similar to genuine bank checks, but you can tell them apart by:
The check has a straight thin border in dark blue with a thick border at the top containing the following security statement: “The face of this document has a colored background on a white paper background.” Another security statement containing a padlock icon will be printed along the right border. A heat-sensitive security feature with a lock icon is located at the bottom center of the check. The words “CASHIER’S CHECK” appear in the left pane using a standard bold font.
Checks presented so far range in amount from $1,490 to $200,000 and include the senders’ names: Kelvin Michael, Dennis Stouffer, Charlynn Turner, Mark Walters, Jack Wilson, and Powell Valley National Bank. There may be.
The checks were sent to potential victims via U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail and were accompanied by employment fraud letters purporting to be from a well-known organic dairy company. This letter fraudulently informs the recipient that they have been selected to participate in a 10-week car wrap campaign to promote this company. The letter instructs the recipient to deposit the check into their bank account and immediately email a copy of the deposit slip to the scammer. Recipients of the counterfeit items are told that $500 of the funds will be counted toward their first week’s paycheck. The rest will be used to send to the decal installer. The contact information provided by the scammer is a text-only cell phone number (424) 888-3690 and an email address (admin@horizonadvertisement.com).
For additional information and to verify the authenticity of checks drawn on Powell Valley National Bank, please contact the Bank’s Compliance Officer at (276) 346-1414, extension 5. 134, by email at tlarge@powellvalleybank.com, or by mail at PO Box 100, Jonesville, VA 24263.
Consumers who receive counterfeit or fictitious products and related materials should file complaints with the following authorities, as appropriate:
OCC: Email (occalertresponses@occ.treas.gov) or fax to (571) 293-4925. Or call the Special Supervision Division at (202) 649-6450. U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Inspector General (OIG): Call (800) 359‑3898 or visit the OIG website. Federal Trade Commission (FTC): You may contact us at (877) FTC-HELP, or you may file a complaint electronically through the FTC’s website. National Consumers League (NCL): Call (202) 835-3323 or email. To file a fraud complaint, please visit the NCL Fraud website. Better Business Bureau (BBB): Visit our website to find the BBB in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (report scams that may occur on the Internet). If you received your communication via the United States Postal Service, please contact the United States Postal Inspection Service at (888) 877-7644. Mailed to: US Postal Inspection Service, Office of Inspector General, Operations Support Group, 222 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 1250, Chicago, IL 60606-6100. or via our online complaint form.
For additional information on other types of financial fraud, please visit the OCC’s Fraud Resources page, also located at OCC.gov.
Monica A. Freeze
executive director
