AL 99-10   
Subject: Year 2000-Related Fraud Prevention
Date: July 6, 1999


TO:	Chief Executive Officers of National Banks, Federal Branches, 
        Service Providers, Software Vendors, Department and Division Heads, 
        and Examining Personnel 

This advisory alerts you to the release of Federal Financial 
Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) guidance, “Year 2000-Related 
Fraud Prevention.” The FFIEC acted out of concern that criminal elements 
will try to defraud financial institutions and their customers using the 
Year 2000 as cover.  The FFIEC guidance urges financial institutions to 
review their fraud prevention programs to ensure that they are protecting 
themselves and their customers from Year 2000-related fraud. 

The OCC encourages national banks to distribute the attached “Year 
2000-Related Fraud Advisory” to customers and to work with organizations, 
such as the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and law 
enforcement agencies to educate consumers.  The advisory provides advice 
on how to avoid becoming a victim of these schemes.  Specifically, 
customers are advised that they should:

? Never give out account information, credit card or social 
security numbers, or other personal information to someone they don’t 
know, unless they have initiated the contact. Customers should report 
any suspicious requests for confidential account information.
? Receive and review account statements on a timely basis and contact 
their financial institution to report any suspicious request for 
confidential account information.  Customers should make sure that 
charges made to accounts are authorized and should report any 
discrepancies to their financial institution.  ? Contact their 
financial institution with any question about its Year 2000 
readiness.

The FFIEC guidance and customer advisory are attached as well 
as available on the OCC’s Web site at www.occ.treas.gov.  For 
more information on Year 2000 issues, contact Year 2000 Supervision 
Policy at (202) 874-2340 or Enforcement and Compliance at 
(202) 874-4800. 



                                                     
Emory W. Rushton
Senior Deputy Comptroller, Bank Supervision Policy

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