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Consumers have reported receiving fictitious email messages, allegedly initiated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) or senior officials of the agency, regarding funds purportedly under the control of the OCC.

Any communication claiming that the OCC is involved in holding any funds for the benefit of any individual or entity is fraudulent. The OCC does not participate in the transfer of funds for, or on behalf of, individuals, business enterprises, or governmental entities.

Consumers have reported receiving poorly written email messages from the following email addresses, which are not associated with the OCC: [office2comptroller90@gmail.com], [deadhead@kfedisbroke.com], [name@kfedisbroke.com], [name@officeocc.com], [name@naver.com], [name@mynet.com], [name@outlook.com], and [123office@fork.ocn.ne.jp].

Following are four samples of frequently received messages:

Example #1

“I write to inform you that after so much deliberation with the Federal Reserve System and the United Nation as regards unsettled debts, lottery and compensation funds, the sum of $1.5 million has been approved in your favor as result of all unsettled debts, lottery and compensation funds due to you. We have been trying to reach you to know if this funds has been remitted to you and 109.195.209.147glad we have finally reached you through our Cyber experts and will ensure you get this funds.

Will advise you reach me with below details so I can guild you on how best to have this already approved funds transferred to you:

Name:

Email: [name@mynet.com] (Will contact you with official email after we have opened communication)”

Example #2

“Hello,

I am [NAME AND TITLE REMOVED] United States Of America (OCC) you can read more about me here:

https://www.occ.treas.gov/about/who-we-are/leadership/index-leadership.html

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is an independent bureau within the United States Department of the Treasury that was established by the National Currency Act of 1863 and serves to charter, regulate, and supervise all national banks and thrift institutions and the federally licensed branches and agencies of foreign/local banks in the United States.

A directive has been issued to us to settle all outstanding payments accrued to individuals with respect to local and overseas contract payment, debt re-scheduling and outstanding compensation payment. We have been notified that you are yet to receive your fund. Fortunately, you have been selected alongside a few other beneficiaries to receive your own payment of $1,500,000.00 (One Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars only). This money will hence be transferred to your nominated bank account.

To our surprise One [NAME REMOVED] wrote us that you asked her to claim the funds and presented below account details for the funds transfer:

Bank name :
Account name :
Account number:
Routing number:
Swift code:
Bank Address :

Most importantly, confirm to us urgently if you gave permission to [NAME REMOVED] to claim the fund on your behalf and if case you did not authorize anybody, then, You will have to stop communicating with the impersonators and the organizations, because they are trying to divert your fund to themselves. She tries, so hard to change the fund ownership to her name.

Await your response:

Email: [name@mynet.com]

Thanks.”

Example #3

“Office of the Comptroller
of the Currency (OCC)
400 7th Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20219

Thank you for your email and I will ensure [NAME REMOVED] is arrested

I am glad to have developed communication with you as the sole beneficiary to this funds and will ensure you get your funds which is in line of the oath of office.

Again The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is an independent bureau within the United States Department of the Treasury that was established by the National Currency Act of 1863 and serves to charter, regulate, and supervise all national banks and thrift institutions and the federally licensed branches and agencies of foreign/local banks in the United States.

I have attached the OCC FORM for you to fill personal details as requested, please do not fill the part made for officials because this form is an evidence that establishes transaction between yourself and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for reference purpose and to fulfil legal demands, after which your funds can be released to you.

I will wait to read from you after you have filled the necessary details.

Thanks,

United States Of America (OCC).

Note: You can as well fill the needed details as below if you are unable to print out and fill, the Department will get it documented for you

Full Name:
Full Address:
Sex:
Age:
Next Of Kin:
Working Telephone Number:
Company Name:
Position in the company:”

Example #4

“THIS MAIL IS FOR THE OWNER OF THIS EMAIL ADDRESS:

REGARDING YOUR APPROVED FUND: $136,000.000.00 US DOLLARS.

A payment which you are supposed to receive last year, this is a compensation payment approved to you by Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) . We are truly sorry for the delayed payment. Having reviewed all the obstacle and problems surrounding the release of your $136,000.000.00 USD

The bank manager Mr. [NAME REMOVED] of the First Citizens Bank he was behind in all the delay, his plan was to divert the funds to his personal bank account. I am really worried we never heard from you for the past months, i don’t know if you are dead or still alive?

Two people from California came to our office few days ago, a lady with a man they told us that you sent them to receive the $136,000.000.00 on your behalf.

Here is the information they provided to us:

Street, LOS ANGELES, CA 90039

Names, [NAMES REMOVED]

Please confirm to us, do you know these two people from Los Angeles California? We are not comfortable with their claim to the $136,000.000.00 because i know that the $136,000.000.00 were approved to you by Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) . We don’t want to release the money to a wrong person.

I wait to read back from you ASAP, also confirm if those two people [NAMES REMOVED] were sent by you?

Thank you”

The communication may include a fictitious “Funds Clearance Application Form,” a sample of which is attached. Consumers should understand that as email addresses are reported and shut down, the scammers will continue to create new email addresses. Do not respond in any manner to any proposal purported to be issued by the OCC that requests personal account information, or requires the payment of any fee in connection with the proposal, or suggests the OCC is a participant in the transfer of funds for or on behalf of others.

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

• 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): 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 website offers contact information for local BBBs, objective reports on more than 2 million businesses, consumer scam alerts, and tips on a wide variety of topics that help consumers find trustworthy businesses and make wise purchasing decisions.
• Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (to report scams that may have originated via 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.

Additional information concerning this matter that should be brought to the attention of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) may be forwarded to

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
Special Supervision Division
400 7th St. SW, Suite 3E-218; MS 8E-12
Washington, DC 20219
Phone: (202) 649-6450
Fax: (571) 293-4925
www.occ.gov
occalertresponses@occ.treas.gov

For additional information regarding other types of financial fraud, please visit the OCC’s anti-fraud resources page.

 

Monica A. Freas
Director for Enforcement and Compliance

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