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Consumer Alert: Watch Out for OCC-Imposter Scams

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Message from the Director, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) Customer Assistance Group

June 2025

Key Takeaways:

  • The OCC will never ask you for money or personal info to release funds.
  • Any communication claiming that the OCC is holding money for you, or anyone else, is a scam.
  • Scammers use various methods, including phone, email, social media, and postal mail, to contact you and try to trick you into providing your personal information.

What is an OCC-Imposter Scam?

Scammers claiming to be OCC officials use officials’ names, photos, and other contact information to steal money and personal information. Scammers often say you have money waiting for you, and they need your personal details to release it to you. The scammer may use fake government agency names and official-looking seals to appear legitimate.

  • Initial Contact: Victims are contacted via email, postal mail, phone, or social media (e.g., Google Chat, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp) and are falsely informed that the OCC is holding funds for them.
  • Requests for Information: Scammers ask for general personal information (name, address, phone number) and later request more sensitive data, like Social Security numbers, bank account details, and copies of driver’s licenses or passports.
  • Upfront Fees: Victims are often instructed to pay fees (e.g., currency conversion fees, attorney fees) to access the supposed funds held by the OCC.

The goal of these scammers is to steal your money and your identity.

Types of OCC-Imposter Scams

1. The Unclaimed Assets Scam:

Victims are contacted via email about unclaimed cash and benefits being held for them by the OCC. The email states that final payment will be made to them in Bitcoin. Some email addresses used in this scam include:

2. The Currency Conversion Fee Scam

After scammers have made contact with the victims, the scammers then send the victims letters titled “Request for Currency Conversion Settlement.” These letters usually include a picture of the victim’s passport as well as their Social Security number to make them look real. The victim is instructed to pay a currency conversion fee to convert money into the victim’s bank account. The fee requested may vary, but it is generally $5,500. Telephone number (202) 978-7477 has been used has part of this scam. This is not a real OCC number.

3. Victim Compensation Payment Scam

Victims of past financial scams are contacted via telephone and email by individuals claiming to be employees of the Financial Crimes Division of the OCC. Note: The OCC does not have a Financial Crimes Division. Victims are notified that a compensation check has been issued for a large sum for money they lost in previous scams. The victims of this scam are informed that they must first pay $1,500 in legal fees in order to receive the compensation. The amount requested for legal fees may vary. Once the fee is paid, victims are instructed to visit an OCC office to retrieve the compensation check.

To be clear, these scammers are not affiliated with the OCC. Here are a few examples of the false contact information that has been used in these schemes:

  1. Loretta Shepard (fictitious OCC employee)
  2. Ray Parker (fictitious OCC employee)
  3. David Bradley (authorized agent) (fictitious)
  4. [Deptoftreasury@usa.com] / (202) 968-0104
  5. [pugha2410@gmail.com]
  6. [Frank.Anselmo@outlook.com]
  7. [Info.federalreservebank101@gmail.com] / (203) 516-7051
  8. [militarybase.military72base11@gmail.com]
  9. [danibaker123@gmail.com]
  10. Kimberly A. Jabal (via Google Chat, purports to be associated with an overnight delivery service)
  11. Richard A. Varn (via Google Chat, purports to be associated with a financial institution)

What to Do (and What Not to Do)

  • Do NOT respond to any message supposedly issued by the OCC that asks for personally identifiable information, requires the payment of any fee, or suggests the OCC is holding money for you.
  • Do NOT share your personal or bank information.
  • Do contact your bank right away to protect your accounts if you gave out personal information.
  • Do send any documentation, names, or contact information used by the OCC imposters, to the real OCC at OCCAlertResponses@occ.treas.gov.

Report Scams

People who have been victimized or targeted in an upfront fee scam should report the scam to the agencies listed below, as appropriate:

  • Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
    Call (877) FTC-HELP or, file a complaint on ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
    Initiate a recovery plan by following the instructions at IdentityTheft.gov.
  • Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
    If the scam came through the Internet, file a complaint with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov).
  • U.S. Postal Service (USPS)
    If the scam correspondence is received via the U.S. Postal Service, contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
    Call (888) 877-7644 or use the online complaint form.
    By mail: U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Office of Inspector General, Operations Support Group
    222 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 1250
    Chicago, IL 60606-6100
  • U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Inspector General (OIG)
    Call (800) 359-3898 or visit their website.

Stay alert. Don’t fall for scams. Remember, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency does not participate in the transfer of funds for, or on behalf of individuals, businesses, or government entities.

The mission of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is to ensure that national banks and federal savings associations operate in a safe and sound manner, provide fair access to financial services, treat customers fairly, and comply with applicable laws and regulations.

Check out our Fraud & Scams Help Topics.

Read more Past Messages from the Director.