Public Notice
Custer Federal State Bank has had reports that counterfeit cashier’s checks using the bank’s routing number of 304171839 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a job opportunity (mystery shopper) overpayment scam.
While the counterfeit checks resemble the bank’s authentic items, counterfeits may be identified by the following traits:
- The checks are blue and contain a dark top border with the following security statement: “WARNING: THIS DOCUMENT HAS SECURITY FEATURES IN THE PAPER.”
- Security features listed on the back of the check are not valid.
- Account number 174002170 is used in all counterfeit checks.
- The check number in the micro line at the bottom of the check is preceded by four zeros.
- The counterfeit checks also have a bank officer signature looking like the first name Roland.
Checks presented to date have been made payable in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. The remitter name has changed but majority of checks have had the following remitter:
- James Harvey
- Taylor Barker
- Gerard M. Mullen
- Ronald Helm
- Richard Abertany
Potential victims have been contacted via email, text, and mail by James Harvey with the company name Vindale Professional Survey and Research Group using an email address of [[email protected]]. The correspondence is a mystery shopper assignment giving instructions to purchase e-Bay gift cards at any of the following stores: Walgreens, Target, CVS, Kmart, Staples, Albertons, Publix, and Safeway. The victims are to purchase the gift cards with a portion of the check provided and keep the rest for their compensation after filling out the survey. Then the victims are to text pictures of the gift card codes to the phone numbers provided (510-340-7245 or 510-900-3983).
If you have received a check, please contact us to authenticate its legitimacy at:
Custer Federal State Bank
341 South 10th Ave
PO Box 310
Broken Bow, NE 68822
-Or-
Custer Federal State Bank
1305 East 56th Street
Kearney, NE 68847
Phone: 308-455-3293 or 308-872-6486
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 308-872-5442