Metropolitan National Bank has reported that counterfeit cashier's checks issued in the name of Bank of Kimberling City and using a routing number of 081502886 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a variety of Internet purchase scams.

The Bank of Kimberling City was acquired by and merged into Metropolitan National Bank in 2004. At that time, all official bank items bearing the name of Bank of Kimberling City were retired. As such, any item presented bearing the name of Bank of Kimberling City is counterfeit and should not be negotiated.

Items presented to date have been made payable in varying amounts from $3,500 to $5,600, have contained serial numbers 174337 through 174433, and include remitter names of John Powell, Jones Martins, Stephen Jones, or John Smith. Information contained on the check may either be typed or handwritten.

The fraudsters are responding to classified ads posted on the Internet by potential victims and agreeing to purchase the merchandise advertised. Within a day of responding to the ad, the fraudster sends the seller a check for an amount greater than the agreed-upon purchase price. The check is sent via overnight courier or regular mail and may originate out of Canada. The seller is then instructed to deposit the check into their bank account, deduct the money for the sale of the item, and wire the difference to a third party, generally located in another country. The third party is classified by the fraudster as the shipping company responsible for picking up and shipping the merchandise. Once the funds are wired, the fraudster is never heard from again. The check is returned as counterfeit, and the victim is left liable for the entire loss.

For additional information and guidance regarding Bank of Kimberling City's cashier's checks, please contact Alicia Yount, BSA/Security Officer, Metropolitan National Bank, 600 S. Glenstone, PO Box 3840, Springfield, MO 65802, by telephone at (417) 862-2022, by fax at (417) 862-9964, or via e-mail at [ayount@metronationalbank.com].

Consumers who receive a counterfeit item and associated material should file complaints with the following agencies:

• 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.

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Internet Fraud Complain Center (Scams that have originated via the internet): www.ic3.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, Office of Inspector General, Operations Support Group, 222 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 1250, Chicago, IL  60606-6100, or via e-mail at http://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.gov

For additional information regarding other types of financial fraud, please visit the OCC’s anti-fraud resource at: http://www.occ.gov/topics/consumer-protection/fraud-resources/index-fraud-resources.html.

/signed/

Richard C. Stearns
Director for Enforcement & Compliance