OCC warns of counterfeit checks with routing number of Farmers & Merchants National Bank (Illinois)

May 22, 2019 OCC 0

At least four variations of counterfeit checks bearing the routing number of 081906275, which belongs to Farmers & Merchants National Bank, Nashville, Ill., are reportedly being presented for payment nationwide in connection with various online auction and job opportunity scams, the national bank regulator said in an alert Wednesday.

Checks presented to date have been made payable in amounts between $1,450 and $6,850, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) said in its Alert 2019-5.

The agency noted that although the counterfeit checks resemble the bank’s authentic items, they may be identified by the following traits:

Variation #1

  • The checks are light blue with a white wreath in the center and contain a darker blue border.
  • The top border contains the following security statement: “SECURITY FEATURES INCLUDE TRUE WATERMARK PAPER, MICROPRINT BORDER, HEAT SENSITIVE ICON AND FOIL HOLOGRAM.”
  • The bank’s logo does not contain the telephone number.
  • The following security statement is located along the right border along with a padlock icon: “Security features included. Details on back.”
  • A heat sensitive hologram security feature appears in the bottom center portion of the check.
  • The authorized signature appears as “Anna Wilhelm.”
  • The remitter name may be “Mark Rilay.”

Variation #2

  • The checks are light blue with a darker blue top and bottom border.
  • The top border contains the following security statement: “THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND ON WHITE PAPER.”
  • The bank’s logo does not contain the telephone number.
  • The bottom border contains the following security statement: “THE BACK OF THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS CHECK SECURITY WATERMARK AND COIN REACTIVE INK.”
  • A heat sensitive key security feature is located in the bottom center portion of the check.
  • The authorized signature appears as “Anna Wilhelm.”
  • The remitter name may be “John Nowicki.”

Variation #3

  • The checks are white and contain the following security statement in blue in the top border: “WARNING: THIS DOCUMENT HAS SECURITY FEATURES IN THE PAPER.”
  • The bank’s logo does not contain the telephone number.
  • A padlock icon and security statement appear along the right border.
  • The authorized signature appears as “Anna Wilhelm.”
  • The remitter name may be “Janeen Glasco.”

Variation #4

  • The checks are of unknown color but contain a marbled background and darker top border.
  • The top border contains the following security statement: “THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK.”
  • The bank’s logo does not contain the telephone number.
  • The authorized signature appears as “Anna Wilhelm.”
  • The remitter name may be “Cody Miller.”

Counterfeit Cashier’s Checks of Farmers & Merchants National Bank, Nashville, Ill. (OCC Alert 2019-5)