The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.
Federal Reserve Bank OF DALLAS TONY J. SALVAGGIO F IR S T V IC E P R E S ID E N T DALLAS, TEXAS May 4, 1995 75265-5906 Notice 95-45 TO: The Chief Operations Officer of each member bank and others concerned in the Eleventh Federal Reserve District SUBJECT Notice of Fraudulent Check Cashing Scheme DETAILS The Federal Bureau of Investigation is requesting assistance in an ongoing investigation concerning an individual carrying out a counterfeit check cashing scheme. In October of 1994, numerous counterfeit checks were cashed in Tennessee, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Illinois. In November 1994, the scheme moved to Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Virginia, and West Virginia. In December and early January, numerous counterfeit checks were cashed in Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia. The last several checks known to have been cashed were during late January 1995, in the states of West Virginia, Kentucky, and Indiana. The counterfeit check cashing scheme appears to have been ongoing since sometime in the late 1980’s, leading to estimated losses well in excess of $1 million. ATTACHMENT Attached is a notice prepared by the Federal Bureau of Investigation describing some of the details in the fraudulent check cashing scheme. MORE INFORMATION Any person having information regarding this scheme should contact the nearest office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or the Case Agent, Jerry Southworth, Eau Claire, Wisconsin Resident Agency, at (715) 835-3761. For additional copies of this Bank’s notice, please contact the Public Affairs Department at (214) 922-5254. Sincerely, For additional copies, bankers and others are encouraged to use one of the following toll-free numbers in contacting the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas: Dallas Office (800) 333 -4460; El Paso Branch Intrastate (800) 592-1631, Interstate (800) 351-1012; Houston Branch Intrastate (800) 392-4162, Interstate (800) 221-0363; San Antonio Branch Intrastate (800) 292-5810. This publication was digitized and made available by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas' Historical Library (FedHistory@dal.frb.org) (Revised 4/3/95) NOTICE OF FRAUDULENT CHECK CASHING SCHEME THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. CHECKS PURPORTING TO BE ON SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES AND DRAWN ON "FIRST AMERICAN"; "FIRST AMERICAN BANK"; "FIRST BANK"; "FIRST FEDERAL BANK"; "FIRST HOME FEDERAL"; "FIRST NATIONAL"; "FIRST NATIONAL BANK"; "FIRST NATIONAL BANK & TRUST"; AND "FIRST OF AMERICA" NOTIFY FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION REFERENCE: Reference is made to a "NOTICE OF FRAUDULENT CHECK CASHING SCHEME, ETC.", captioned as above with revision date 10/5/94. SYNOPSIS: Since at least mid-1991,* and probably since the late 80s, an individual has been involved in a scheme victimizing grocery stores and supermarkets throughout the United States. The individual is cashing counterfeit checks which appear to be payroll checks on small businesses located in the community in which the checks are presented and cashed. The checks presented are in round dollar amounts ranging from $136 to $298. The businesses and banks are non-existent. The checks are cashed at small grocery stores or supermarkets in communities with populations of less than 50,000. The individual presents the check to a cashier as payment for a purchase, generally feminine hygiene products and cigarettes, and receives substantial cash back. At the time of presentation to the individual clerk (generally a young female), the check bears handwriting in the upper right hand corner. The numbers appear to be a Social Security or driver's license number; a local telephone number; and a three digit address generally on Pine, Vine or Henry Streets. The individual cashes no more than a few checks in each small community and then moves on. SIMILARITY/DESCRIPTION OF FRAUDULENT CHECKS: The fraudulent checks can be identified based on the following similarities: 1. All of the checks thus far cashed have been numbered 1136, 1659, 1818, 2066, 3136, 5521, 5720, 5840, 6530, 6559, and 9198. 1 2. All of the checks appear to be business/payroll checks on a small business in the same general area where the check is cashed. 3. All of the checks purport to be on banks in the area where the check is cashed, specifically. "FIRST AMERICAN"; "FIRST AMERICAN BANK"; "FIRST BANK"; "FIRST HOME FEDERAL"; "FIRST NATIONAL"; "FIRST FEDERAL BANK"; "FIRST NATIONAL BANK & TRUST"; "FIRST NATIONAL BANK"; and "FIRST OF AMERICA". 4. All checks have typed entries on: amount, and memo sections. date, payee, 5. All checks have a series of handwritten numbers in the upper right hand corner which appear to be a driver's license number or Social Security Account Number (SSAN), a local telephone number, and a local address, a three digit number on Pine, Vine or Henry Streets. 6. The checks are always in round dollar amounts (i.e. 00 cents). v 7. The payee's name always begins with "Mr.". 8. The fictitious company name always ends with "Inc.". DESCRIPTION OF CHECK PASSER: The following is a composite description of the individual cashing the counterfeit checks: A white male in his late 30s to early 40s, approximately 6' tall, weighing 220-230 pounds, dark brown hair, generally dressed in a dress shirt and tie, sometimes a sports coat. The individual sometimes wears glasses and occasionally wears a mustache. LOSSES/SCOPE OF SCHEME: The investigation has developed that checks relating to this scheme have been cashed in the state of: Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Over 600 of these checks have been collected by the FBI from victim merchants who have suffered losses in excess of $200,000. According to recent information developed, the scheme was in existence in 1989 through 1991 in the southeastern and southern states before moving to the 2 midwest. An estimate of the actual victims, including those not reporting the matter to the FBI, is conservatively set at five times the number known, with losses well in excess of $1 million. The losses continue to grow as the scheme proceeds. COMPANY NAMES USED ON COUNTERFEIT CHECKS: The following is a listing of the company names used on the counterfeit checks thus far cashed: ANDERSON GLASS & MIRROR, INC.; ANDERSON'S GLASS & MIRROR, INC.; BARRETT PEST CONTROL, INC.; BARRY FLOOR & TILE, INC.; BOB'S TECHNICAL SERVICE, INC.; CARL'S SIGN & DISPLAY, INC.; CENTRAL PRODUCTIONS, INC.; CENTURY DESIGN, INC.; CENTURY II PROMOTIONS, INC.; CENTURY II SOUND, INC.; CINDY'S CATERING SERVICE, INC.; CINDY'S DECORATING, INC.; DANNY'S PEST CONTROL, INC.; DANNY'S SIGN & DISPLAY, INC.; DATA SYSTEMS, INC.; DAVIDSON SIGN & DISPLAY, INC.; FOREST ELECTRICAL SERVICE, INC.; FRANK'S SIGN & DISPLAY, INC.; FRANKLIN AUTO & BODY SHOP, INC.; FRANKLIN DESIGN & DECOR, INC.; FRANKLIN PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO, INC.; FRANKLIN PHOTOGRAPHY, INe. ; FRANKLIN SIGN & DISPLAY, INC.; GENE'SDECORATING, INC.; GILBERT'S STUDIO, INC.; HARRIS HEAT & AIR, INC.; HARRIS PEST CONTROL, INC.; HARRISON FLOOR & TILE, INC.; HARRISON SIGN & DISPLAY, INC.; HERMAN'S CAMERA, INC.; HOGAN'S STUDIO, INC.; HOLLINGSWORTH ELECTRICAL SERVICE, INC.; HOWARD PAINT & SIGN, INC.; HOWARD PAINT & WALLPAPER, INC.; JACKSON AUTOBODY SHOP, INC.; JACKSON CARPET & TILE, INC.; JACKSON SIGN & DISPLAY, INC.; JEFFERSON CARPET & TILE, INC.; JERRY'S CARPET & TILE, INC.; JERRY'S ELECTRICAL SERVICE, INC.; JERRY'S PHOTOGRAPHY, INC.; JERRY'S SIGN & DISPLAY, INC.; KINCAID GLASS & MIRROR, INC.; KINCAID PHOTOGRAPHY, INC.; MAYFIELD GLASS & MIRROR, INC.; MAYFIELD PEST CONTROL, INC.; MAYFIELD PHOTOGRAPHY, INC.; MITCHELL AUTO & BODY SHOP, INC.; MITCHELL PHOTOGRAPHY, INC.; MITCHELL SIGN & DISPLAY, INC.; MITCHELL'S ELECTRICAL SERVICE, INC.; MITCHELL'S GLASS & MIRROR, INC.; MITCHELL'S HOME IMPROVEMENT, INC.; MITCHELL'S PEST CONTROL, INC.; MITCHELL'S SIGN & DISPLAY, INC.; MITCHELL'S UPHOLSTERY, INC.; NEWMAN HEATING & AIR, INC.; NORMAN'S FURNITURE REPAIR, INC.; NORRIS HEAT & AIR, INC.; PAUL'S DESIGN & DECOR, INC.; PAUL'S ELECTRICAL SERVICE, INC.; PAUL'S ELECTRICAL SALES & SERVICE, INC.; PAUL'S PEST CONTROL, INC.; PAUL'S PHOTOGRAPHY, INC.; PAUL'S SIGN & DECOR, INC.; PAUL'S SIGN & DISPLAY, INC.; PAUL'S GLASS & MIRROR, INC.; PAULA'S DESIGN & DECOR, INC.; PAULA'S DESIGN, INC.; PEGGY'S DECOR & DESIGN, INC.; PEGGY'S INTERIOR DESIGN, INC.; PERRY GLASS & MIRROR, INC.; PERRY PHOTOGRAPHY, INC.; PERRY'S ELECTRICAL SERVICE, INC.; PERRY'S SIGN & DISPLAY, INC.; RANDY'S ELECTRICAL SERVICE, INC.; RAYMOND SIGN & DISPLAY, INC.; RAYMOND'S SIGN & DISPLAY, INC.; RICHARD'S CARPET & TILE, INC.; RITEWAY EXTERMINATING SERVICE, INC.; RON'S DECOR & DESIGN, INC.; ROSS INTERIOR DESIGN, INC.; SOUND DESIGN, INC.; SOUND EFFECTS, INC.; STAN'S INTERIOR DECOR, INC.; STEVE'S ELECTRICAL SERVICE, INC.; STEVE'S PEST CONTROL, INC.; STEVENS ELECTRICAL SERVICE, INC.; 3 STEVENS ELECTRICAL SERVICE, INC.; TERRY'S CARPET & TILE, INC.; TERRY'S CARPET SHOP; TERRY'S LIGHTING & FIXTURES, INC.; TERRY'S LIGHTING FIXTURES, INC.; TERRY'S PEST CONTROL, INC.; TERRY'S SIGN & DISPLAY, INC.; THOMAS GLASS & MIRROR, INC.; THOMAS HEAT & AIR, INC.; THOMAS PEST CONTROL, INC.; THOMAS PHOTOGRAPHY, INC.; THOMPSON'S ELECTRICAL SERVICE, INC.; WILLIAM BROS. PEST CONTROL, INC.; WILLIAM CARPET & TILE, INC.; WILLIAM GLASS & MIRROR, INC.; WILLIAM'S ELECTRICAL SERVICE, INC.; WILLIAM'S PEST CONTROL, INC.; WILLIAM'S PHOTOGRAPHY, INC.; WILLIAMS ELECTRICAL SERVICE, INC.; WILLIAMS ELECTRICAL SERVICE, INC.; WILLIAMS GLASS & MIRROR, INC.; WILLIAMS PEST CONTROL, INC.; WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHY, INC.; WILSON'S PEST CONTROL, INC.; WORLD CLASS SOUND, INC.; ZIMMERMAN ELECTRIC SERVICE, INC.; ZIMMERMAN ELECTRICAL SERVICE, INC.; ZIMMERMAN PEST CONTROL, INC. COUNTERFEIT CHECKS PAYABLE TO: The checks thus far cashed have been made payable to various combinations of the following first and last names: FIRST NAMES USEI> LAST NAMES USED ANDY DEAN GARRY JERRY MARK MIKE PAUL RANDALL RANDY ROBERT RONNIE STEVE STEVEN TERRY ANDERSON CHAPMAN COLEMAN CRAWFORD GARISON GARRISON HAMILTON HARRISON HENDERSON HENDRICKSON HOFFMAN HOLLINGSWORTH HOLLOWAY HUTCHINSON KIRKLAND LAWSON PATTERSON PETERSON RICHARDSON ROBERTSON ROBINSON STEVENS STEVENSON WALLACE WILLIAMS ZIMMERMAN BANK ROUTING AND ACCOUNT INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE CHECKS CASHED: 4 The following bank routing, account, and fractional routing numbers have been utilized on the counterfeit checks: CHECK # BANK ROUTING # ACCOUNT # FRACTIONAL # 1136 1659 5801010183 2616160107 2659111596 2165601659 2602660107 2615900107 13010157 11071619 100165519 12659159 12671610 16111596 74-173/911 64-7568/2611 64-7568-1611 64-7568/2611 64-7568-2611 64-7568/2611 1818 2611100067 01311596 64-7568/2611 2066 091202166 001214166 5801010183 0-91206791 056614116 066214154 001214154 054214116 5472154 55475566 13010157 55472101 24215520 26675554 20675566 24215554 74-173/911 74-173/911 74-173/911 74-173/911 74-173/911 74-173/911 74-173/911 74-173/911 3136 0432004614 1136201413 091101730 0432004614 16384696 14135696 16369001 16369001 74-173/911 74-173/911 74-173/911 74-173/911 3696 5804310181 0432004696 1136311411 1136310096 1136310001 0432002066 0421004696 16514136 16593196 10414001 16514001 13204001 10441656 11369001 74-173/911 74-173/911 74-173/911 74-173/911 74-173/911 74-173/911 74-173/911 5521 1052171000 1552171000 15154500 15154500 66-46/531 66-46/531 5720 5955802495 570200495 0570045 10157090 64-7568/2611 64-7568/2611 5840 1044002600 5844002600 23102009 20402626 66-236/2611 5480/276 6559 2659156516 12151610 64-7568/2611 9198 1136981413 10333629 74-173/911 5 ATTACHMENTS: Attached are copies of six checks recently cashed. The six checks are typical of the counterfeit checks cashed since October, 1994 (five with check #5840, one with check #9198). REQUEST/NOTIFY: Any Law Enforcement Agency having information regarding this scheme; suspect; or other information of value should contact the nearest office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); or the Case Agent, Jerry Southworth, Eau Claire, Wisconsin Resident Agency, telephone number (715) 835-3761. If no answer call FBI Milwaukee, Wisconsin, telephone number (414) 276-4684, referring to case number 87D-MW-30008. Any business victimized by this scheme, or having any information regarding suspects, is reguested to contact local Law Enforcement and-the FBI. For immediate response to any attempt to cash one of the fraudulent checks, contact the nearest Law Enforcement Agency and provide that agency with the information from this notice. 6 Tr HARRIS HEAT & A1H, WC. "“ igfzu**' ru*EU«J'W. tU O ttc&\U ^sr-nQ oi&'iO^O^O 5840 wf,*u_ ifa. PartotW £ 4 ”* ? 8D3EA 7SO& ____________________________ — s- 7?*.00 om£ tuiMdRHQ Mtrry tigtcr and tfo/oo -DoUais FIRST FEDERAL BANK 7 \ u s0 r3 $ % & i 0 o cj? 3 3 For— OPfg&UMg fXPflfSf T O R ^JA M - ^.^^ o t:oo5ai«D:o»;jfl<WJOOBtDDi:.r j __________ _____________ ».y ^ .............j; |* i »A*//b -.-,/oooooiqaoo/ I PERRY'S ELECTRICAL SERVICE, INC. 4?!'%,-/^ 5840 972 S. GORDON ST P.O. POX 3841 0UCKHANNON. WV 25493 Dalc _ 2 A tL 2 1 _____ 19_____ £ 5 h a y to « .je o rd e r o f /7/? R C ltltL U .-2 A 7 7 e.RSQN •$ 234. OC 'TUO HLLNDRID 7H.IR.7y TOUR AND N o /0 0 .D o ll FIRST FEDERAL BANK aucmwjMOfi .w 25493 OP PRATING £XP£jVS6R___________ i:o o sa i,o » : i o i * l, o o ^& o o «: 1:2 310 PAUL’S GLASS & MIRROR'> INC‘ n i M t r n U N ^ ® 1IS<) 758 S. TAGEHT DR. P,0, BOX 4837 FALMOUTH, K< /tse38 5840 .1995 r e f e r Pay (0 the m order o f QARRH HU7CHINS0N TUO HUNDRCD 7U£N7y SIX AND NO/OO 226. 00 A/..D ollars FIRST FED ERA L BANK FALVOU7>t. KY 42WS Pof PAYROLL ON £XP£NS£ i:00 5 ^ - 0 A ♦•'QOQQO 2 2 6 0 0 , ^WILSON'S PEST CONTROL, INC ys .. MS W, MAIN ST. P.O. BOX 4473 OAYTON, OH 45289 kc~$5 t S 3a \ o t h £3 J A p r ^ l^ tr U " S T ' f ^ L . D SIGNATURE * 5 8 4 0 Date „ J f t f f D endorsement §----- i9. i t Pi insufficient funds Pay to the __ 1_HjTO TJAMMTO 224.00 TWO HUNDRED TWENTY FOUR AND N O / O O / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / 0-0 ' F IR ST F E D E R A L BANK / O / , / J tSAYROLL ON E X P E N SE iJDOSfltiO / / / / / / OAYTOK, OH 453M P ollar*: / ] ^ U S a i , 1, 0 0 ,3 6 0 0 i! PAUL’S ELECTRICAL SALES & SERVICE, INC. 837 W. BOLTON AVE. P.O. BOX 3362 COSHOCTON. OH 44829 , . P»l»j ___. Insufficiaflt JA H -6___ 19 35- Account LJ Funds Cfosed Pay to the MR STEVE PATTERSON order of □ Data [13 Signature- 234.00 ■$ tzfoiner £ N £ C l< K £ c T TWO HUNDRED THIRTY EOUR AND If .Dollars -39=24- FIRST FEDERAL BANK COSHOCTON, CM U K * For__OPERATING- EXPENSE FOR JAN. • noosauo i:sai«i«oo.0 soo»: ... .WILLIAM BROS. PEST CONTROL, INC. 8493 E. FRANKLIN ST. ■ P.O. BOX 2273 GRE^NEVIUjE, TN 37649 '? / a Q o o a ^ 3 ^ □ □ .• , ’<& 9 1 9 8 5 t 2 r * / 1f S V& PM ' =1W OC3T1 2 ,g__ 94 I I Pay to the order o f. MR STEVE CRAWFORD 234.00 TWO HUNDRED THIRTY FOUR AND NO/OO///////////////////////00 FNB For .Dollars FIRST NATIONAL BANK GHEENEV1LLE, TN 3764i . OPERATING EXPEWNSE u'ooq iqau* «■ U 3 6 ^ a ; « i U 0 0 0 0 0 2 3*tQO/
@FedFRASER