02/07/2022

OCC Alert: Counterfeit Official Checks Being Presented Nationwide

From occ.gov

BankUnited, N.A. of Miami Lakes, FL has reported that a variety of counterfeit official checks using the bank’s routing number of 267090594 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with various online job opportunity scams.

The counterfeit checks do not resemble the bank’s authentic item, and may be identified by the following:

Variation #1

• The checks have a straight dark top border with the following security statement: “TO VERIFY AUTHENTICITY, SEE REVERSE SIDE FOR DESCRIPTION OF THE 13 SECURITY FEATURES.”
• The words “OFFICIAL CHECK” and “CASHIER’S CHECK” appear in a stacked formation centered in the top portion of the check.
• The date is located to the right of the words “CASHIER’S CHECK.”
• The payment field has asterisks before the typed dollar amount.
• All checks are missing the “BR” and “Originator” codes as well as the fractional ABA number.

Variation #2

• The checks resemble those described under Variation #1; however, the date, remitter, payee, and payment amounts may be handwritten.

Checks presented to date have been made payable in amounts between $225 and $30,000 and have a variety of remitter names.

For additional information and to verify the authenticity of checks drawn on BankUnited, N.A., please contact the bank’s Fraud Investigations Manager at (305) 698-4364, by fax at (305) 818-1417, or by mail at 7825 NW 148th Street, Miami Lakes, FL 33016.

Consumers who receive counterfeit or fictitious items and associated material should file complaints with the following agencies, as appropriate:

• OCC: by email at occalertresponses@occ.treas.gov; by fax to (571) 293-4925; or by calling the Special Supervision Division at (202) 649-6450.
• U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Inspector General (OIG): by telephone at (800) 359‑3898 or by visiting the OIG website.
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC): by telephone at (877) FTC-HELP or, for filing a complaint electronically, via the FTC’s website.
• National Consumers League (NCL): by telephone at (202) 835-3323 or by email. To file a fraud complaint, visit the NCL fraud website.
• Better Business Bureau (BBB): visit the website to find BBBs in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
• Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (to report scams that may have originated on the internet).
• If correspondence is received via the U.S. Postal Service, contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service by telephone at (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 the online complaint form.

For additional information regarding other types of financial fraud, please visit the OCC's Fraud Resources page, which also can be found on OCC.gov.

Monica A. Freas
Director of Enforcement