The chief regulator of national banks and federal savings associations on Monday noted that it doesn’t hold or transfer funds for others and that consumers should not respond to any email communications that suggest otherwise, nor should they provide any personal account information or payment in connection with them.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), in Alert 2020-3, said consumers have reported receiving fictitious email messages allegedly initiated by the OCC or its senior officials in conjunction with the Comision Ejecutiva de Atencion a Victimas (CEAV), regarding funds purportedly under the control of the OCC. The OCC said the messages are fraudulent.
“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,” the agency said.
“Consumers have reported receiving poorly written email messages from the following email address: [ceav@baxico.com.mx],” the OCC said in the alert, noting the messages also included contact information and a fictitious phone number purportedly assigned to the OCC. It instructs readers to “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 that suggests the OCC is a participant in the transfer of funds for or on behalf of others.”