HKMA Alert: Fraudulent Bank of East Asia website

04 Nov 2019

Fraudulent website related to The Bank of East Asia, Limited

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by The Bank of East Asia, Limited on fraudulent website, which has been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website for ease of reference by members of the public.

Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the website concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the website should contact the bank concerned using the contact information provided in the press release, and report to the Police or contact the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

 

Hong Kong Monetary Authority
4 November 2019

Link:

HKMA Notice

November 15, 2019: 5 new entities added to Cuba Restricted List

State Department Updates the Cuba Restricted List

PRESS STATEMENT

MICHAEL R. POMPEO, SECRETARY OF STATE

NOVEMBER 15, 2019

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Today, I am announcing an update to the Cuba Restricted List to add five sub-entities owned by the Cuban military to the list of entities with which direct financial transactions are generally prohibited. On November 16th, Cuba commemorates Havana’s 500thanniversary. Havana was once one of the most dynamic and prosperous cities in the Americas. Far from being a celebration, this anniversary is instead a sad reminder of how the revolution continues to fail its people by commandeering Cuba’s economy, rather than reforming it to fulfill Cuba’s economic potential, and by forcefully silencing the voices of Cubans that continue the fight for freedom. The United States remains committed to ensuring U.S. funds do not directly support Cuba’s state security apparatus, which not only violates the human rights of the Cuban people, but also exports this repression to Venezuela to support the corrupt former Maduro regime.

In accordance with the June 2017 National Security Presidential Memorandum-5, “Strengthening the Policy of the United States Toward Cuba,” the U.S. government generally prohibits direct financial transactions with listed entities and sub-entities because they would disproportionately benefit the Cuban military, intelligence, and security services or personnel at the expense of the Cuban people or private enterprise in Cuba.

For more information on the regulations prohibiting direct financial transactions with entities and sub-entities on the Cuba Restricted List, please refer to the November 2017 regulatory amendments by the Departments of the Treasury (31 CFR part 515) and Commerce (15 CFR parts 730-774). The updated Cuba Restricted List can be found at https://www.state.gov/cuba-sanctions/cuba-restricted-list/.

Link:

State Department Press Release

HKMA Alert: Fraudulent Bank of China website

05 Nov 2019

Fraudulent website related to Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited on fraudulent website, which has been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website for ease of reference by members of the public.

Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the website concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the website should contact the bank concerned using the contact information provided in the press release, and report to the Police or contact the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

 

Hong Kong Monetary Authority
5 November 2019

Link:

HKMA Notice

November 13, 2019: EU, OFSI amend Venezuelan listings

On Wednesday, UK regulators implemented Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1891 by making a number of amendments and corrections:

3. 8 entries, listed in the annex to this Notice, have been amended following the publication of Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1891 on 12 November 2019 and are still subject to an asset freeze.

4. A further 16 entries have been corrected to update identifying information and are still subject to an asset freeze. Details of these corrections can be found in the Annex to this Notice.

Amendments:

1. REVEROL TORRES, Nestor Luis Reverol

DOB: 28/10/1964. Position: Minister for Interior, Justice and Peace. Vice-President of Public Works and Services and Executive Secretary of the Electrical General Staff. Other Information: EU-only listing. Former Commander General of the Bolivarian National Guard. Listed on: 22/01/2018 Last Updated: 22/01/2018 13/11/2019 Group ID: 13580.

2. LUCENARAMIREZ, Tibisay Lucena

DOB: 26/04/1959. Position: President of the National Electoral Council (Consejo Nacional Electoral – CNE) Other Information: EU-only listing Listed on: 22/01/2018 Last Updated: 22/01/2018 13/11/2019 Group ID: 13582.

3. SAAB HALABI, Tarek William Saab

DOB: 10/09/1963. POB: El Tigre, Anzoategui state, Venezuela Position: Venezuelan Attorney General appointed by the Constituent Assembly Other Information: EU- only listing. Previously Ombudsman and President of the Republican Moral Council. Listed on: 22/01/2018 Last Updated: 22/01/2018 13/11/2019 Group ID: 13585.

4. SUAREZ CHOURIO, Jesus Rafael Suarez

DOB: 19/07/1962. Position: General Commander Commander in Chief of the Bolivarian National Army and Chief of the General Staff to the Commander-in-Chief. Other Information: Former General Commander of the Venezuelan Bolivarian National Army. Former Commander of Venezuela’s Comprehensive Defence Region of the Central Zone (REDI Central). Listed on: 26/06/2018 Last Updated: 26/06/2018 13/11/2019 Group ID: 13683.

5. JAUA MILANO, Elias Jose Jaua

DOB: 16/12/1969. Position: Minister of Popular Power for Education Other Information: Former Minister of Popular Power for Education. Former President of the Presidential Commission for the illegitimate National Constituent Assembly. Listed on: 26/06/2018 Last Updated: 26/06/2018 13/11/2019 Group ID: 13688.

6. BERNAL ROSALES, Freddy Alirio Bernal

DOB: 16/06/1962. POB: San Cristobal, Tachira state, Venezuela Position: Head of the National Control Centre of the Committee for Local Supply and Production (CLAP) and Protector of Tachira State. Commissioner General of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN). Other Information: Head of the National Control Centre of the Committee for Local Supply and Production (CLAP) and Commissioner General of SEBIN. Listed on: 26/06/2018 Last Updated: 26/06/2018 13/11/2019 Group ID: 13691.

7. BLANCO HURTADO, Nestor Blanco Neptali

DOB: 26/09/1982. National Identification no: V-15222057 Position: Major in the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) Other Information: Has operated alongside officials in the Directorate-General of Military Counter-Intelligence (Direccion General de Contrainteligencia Militar (DGCIM)) since at least December 2017 Listed on: 27/09/2019 Last Updated: 27/09/2019 13/11/2019 Group ID: 13791.

8. CALDERON CHIRINOS, Carlos Alberto

National Identification no: V-10352300 Position: Senior office holder (referred to as Commissioner, Director and Director General) in the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN). Listed on: 27/09/2019 Last Updated: 27/09/2019 13/11/2019 Group ID: 13793.

Corrections:

1. GRANKO ARTEAGA, Alexander Enrique Granko

DOB: 25/03/1981. National Identification no: V-14970215 Position: Head (Director) of the Special Affairs Division (DAE) of the Directorate-General of Military Counter-Intelligence (Direccion General de Contrainteligencia Militar (DGCIM)) Listed on: 27/09/2019 Last Updated: 27/09/2019 13/11/2019 Group ID: 13796.

2. HERNANDEZ DALA, Ivan Hernandez

DOB: 18/05/1966. Position: Head of Directorate-General of Military Counter- Intelligence Other Information: Head of the Directorate-General of Military Counter- Intelligence (DGCIM) since January 2014 and Head of the Presidential Guard since September 2015. Listed on: 26/06/2018 Last Updated: 26/06/2018 13/11/2019 Group ID: 13685.

3. RODRIGUEZ GOMEZ, Delcy Eloina Rodriguez

DOB: 18/05/1969. Position: Vice President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Other Information: Vice President of Venezuela, former President of the illegitimate Constituent Assembly and former member of the Presidential Commission for the illegitimate National Constituent Assembly. Listed on: 26/06/2018 Last Updated: 26/06/2018 13/11/2019 Group ID: 13687.

4. HERNANDEZ HERNANDEZ, Socorro Elizabeth Hernandez

DOB: 11/03/1952. Other Information: Member (Rector) of the National Electoral Council (CNE) and member of the National Electoral Board (JNE). Listed on: 26/06/2018 Last Updated: 26/06/2018 13/11/2019 Group ID: 13695.

5. EL-AISSAMI MADDAH, Tareck Zaidan El-Aissami

DOB: 12/11/1974. Position: Vice President of Economy and Minister for National Industry and Production Other Information: Former Vice President of Venezuela with oversight of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN). Listed on: 26/06/2018 Last Updated: 26/06/2018 13/11/2019 Group ID: 13679.

6. RIVERO MARCANO, Sergio Jose Rivero

DOB: 08/11/1964. Position: Inspector General of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces Other Information: General Commander of

the Bolivarian National Guard until 16 January 2018. Listed on: 26/06/2018 Last Updated: 26/06/2018 13/11/2019 Group ID: 13680.

7. BLANCO MARRERO, Rafael Ramon Blanco

DOB: 28/02/1968. National Identification no: V-6250588 Position: Deputy Director of the Directorate-General of Military Counter-Intelligence (Direccion General de Contrainteligencia Militar (DGCIM)) and Division General of the Venezuelan Bolivarian National Army Listed on: 27/09/2019 Last Updated: 27/09/2019 13/11/2019 Group ID: 13792.

8. ESCALONA MARRERO Alexis Enrique Escalona

DOB: 12/10/1962. Position: Chief in Charge of the National Office Against Organized Crime and Terrorist Financing (ONDOFT) Other Information: National Commander of the National Anti-Extortion and Kidnapping Command (Comando Nacional Antiextorsion y Secuestro (CONAS) between 2014 and 2017. Listed on: 27/09/2019 Last Updated: 27/09/2019 13/11/2019 Group ID: 13794.

9. GUERRERO MIJARES, Hannover Esteban Guerrero

DOB: 14/01/1971. Other Information: Head of Investigations at the Directorate- General of Military Counter-Intelligence (Direccion General de Contrainteligencia Militar (DGCIM)) from at least April 2019 to August 2019. As Head of Investigations he supervised the DGCIM facility in Boleita. Listed on: 27/09/2019 Last Updated: 27/09/2019 13/11/2019 Group ID: 13797.

10. HARRINGTON PADRON, Katherine Nayarith Harrington

DOB: 05/12/1971. Other Information: Formerly Deputy Prosecutor General (also translated as Deputy Attorney General) from July 2017 until October 2018. Appointed Deputy Prosecutor General by the Supreme Court in violation of the Constitution, rather than by the National Assembly. Listed on: 26/06/2018 Last Updated: 10/07/2019 13/11/2019 Group ID: 13694.

11. MORENO PEREZ, Maikel Jose Moreno

DOB: 12/12/1965. Position: President of the Supreme Court of Justice of Venezuela (Tribunal Supremo de Justicia) Other Information: EU-only listing. Formerly Vice President of the Supreme Court of Justice of Venezuela. Listed on: 22/01/2018 Last Updated: 10/07/2019 13/11/2019 Group ID: 13584.

12. FRANCO QUINTERO, Rafael Antonio Franco

DOB: 14/10/1973. National Identification no: V-11311672 Position: Agent in the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) Other Information: Head of Investigations at the Directorate-General of Military Counter-Intelligence (Direccion General de Contrainteligencia Militar (DGCIM)) between at least 2017 and December 2018 Listed on: 27/09/2019 Last Updated: 27/09/2019 13/11/2019 Group ID: 13795.

13. MORENO REYES, Xavier Antonio Moreno

Position: Secretary-General of the National Electoral Council Other Information: Secretary-General of the National Electoral Council (CNE). Listed on: 26/06/2018 Last Updated: 26/06/2018 13/11/2019 Group ID: 13696.

14. CABELLO RONDON, Diosdado Cabello

DOB: 15/04/1963. Position: President of the Constituent Assembly and First Vice President of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) Other Information: EU- only listing Listed on: 22/01/2018 Last Updated: 08/11/2018 13/11/2019 Group ID: 13586.

15. BENAVIDES TORRES, Antonio Jose Benavides

DOB: 13/06/1961. Other Information: EU-only listing. Formerly Chief of the Capital District (Distrito Capital) Government until January 2018. General Commander of the Bolivarian National Guard until 21 June 2017. Listed on: 22/01/2018 Last Updated: 10/07/2019 13/11/2019 Group ID: 13583.

16. OBLITAS RUZZA, Sandra Oblitas

DOB: 07/06/1969. Position: Vice President of National Electoral Council Other Information: Vice President of the National Electoral Council (CNE) and President of the Commission of the Electoral and Civilian Register. Listed on: 26/06/2018 Last Updated: 26/06/2018 13/11/2019 Group ID: 13690.

Links:

OFSI Notice

Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1891

November 8, 2019: FinCEN renews the Real Estate GTO?

FinCEN Reissues Real Estate Geographic Targeting Orders for 12 Metropolitan Areas

Contact
Steve Hudak, 703-905-3770
Immediate Release

WASHINGTON—The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) today announced the renewal of its Geographic Targeting Orders (GTOs) that require U.S. title insurance companies to identify the natural persons behind shell companies used in all-cash purchases of residential real estate.  The purchase amount threshold remains $300,000 for each covered metropolitan area. 

These renewed GTOs will be identical to the May 2019 GTOs with one modification: the new GTOs will not require reporting for purchases made by legal entities that are U.S. publicly-traded companies.  Real estate purchases by such entities are identifiable through other business filings. 

The terms of this Order are effective beginning November 12, 2019 and ending on May 9, 2020.  GTOs continue to provide valuable data on the purchase of residential real estate by persons possibly involved in various illicit enterprises.  Reissuing the GTOs will further assist in tracking illicit funds and other criminal or illicit activity, as well as inform FinCEN’s future regulatory efforts in this sector.

Today’s GTOs cover certain counties within the following major U.S. metropolitan areas:  Boston; Chicago; Dallas-Fort Worth; Honolulu; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Miami; New York City; San Antonio; San Diego; San Francisco; and Seattle.  

FinCEN appreciates the continued assistance and cooperation of the title insurance companies and the American Land Title Association in protecting the real estate markets from abuse by illicit actors.

Any questions about the Orders should be directed to the FinCEN Resource Center at FRC@FinCEN.gov. 



So, normally GTOs are for limited duration. This one, however, has been through a number of iterations and renewals. Why? Are they not getting enough actionable data? If they were, you’d think they’d issue a rulemaking extending all this nationally….

Just saying…

Links:

FinCEN Press Release

Geographic Targeting Order

GTO FAQs

OCC Counterfeit Check Alert: First Federal Savings Bank of Ottawa, IL

 
Alert 2019-9
Subject: Counterfeit Official Checks
Date: November 4, 2019		 Description: First Federal Savings Bank
 
Counterfeit Official Checks: Counterfeit Official Checks and Fictitious Cashier’s Checks of First Federal Savings Bank, Ottawa, Ill.

To: Chief Executive Officers of All National Banks and Federal Savings Associations; All State Banking Authorities; Chair, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Chair, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; Conference of State Bank Supervisors; Deputy Comptrollers (Districts); Assistant Deputy Comptrollers; District Counsels; and All Examining Personnel

The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit official checks and fictitious cashier’s checks using the bank’s routing number of 271972912 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a variety of online auction overpayment and job opportunity scams.

The bank does not issue cashier’s checks. Therefore, any check drawn upon the bank marked as a “cashier’s check” is fictitious.

There are several variations of counterfeit official checks, which may be identified by the following traits:

Variation #1

  • The checks may be light blue/gray in color and contain a wreath watermark and heat-sensitive security inlay within the center of the check.
  • The following security statement is located within the top border: “SECURITY FEATURES INCLUDE TRUE WATERMARK PAPER, MICROPRINT BORDER, HEAT SENSITIVE ICON, AND FOIL HOLOGRAM.”
  • The ABA number appears as 70-2912/271.
  • The address located under the bank’s name appears as “8 Dannys Drive, Streator, IL 61364”.
  • The following security statement is along the right border: “Security Features Included. Details on Back.”
  • The authorized signature appears as Laurence E. Bartman.
  • The remitter name may be Marion Gross.

Variation #2

  • The checks may be light blue/gray in color and contain the following security statement within the top border: “ORIGINAL CHECK HAS MULTIPLE SECURITY FEATURES. SEE BACK FOR DETAILS.”
  • The address located under the bank’s name appears as “A DannyC Drive, Streator, IL 81364.”
  • A heat-sensitive shield is included in the bottom center portion of the check.
  • The authorized signature appears as Laurence E. Bartman.
  • The remitter name may be Maria Moffa.

Variation #3

  • The checks are of unknown color and contain the following security statement within the top border: “WARNING: THIS DOCUMENT HAS SECURITY FEATURES IN THE PAPER.”
  • The ABA number appears as 70-2912/271.
  • The address located under the bank’s name appears as “8 DannyS Drive, Streator, IL 61364”.
  • The following security statement is along the right border: “Security Features.”
  • The authorized signature appears as Laurence E. Bartman.
  • The remitter name may be Austin Hernandez.

Counterfeit and fictitious checks presented to date have been made payable in varying amounts from $950 to $37,600 and may contain additional remitter names of Lawry Barker, Milana Bash, Daniel Jenkins, Manual Jenkins, Gacqui Mese, Jacquelin Neff, Danielle Reese, Danielle Reeves, or Lisa Touris.

For additional information and to verify the authenticity of checks drawn on First Federal Savings Bank, please contact the Check Verification Department by telephone at (815) 672-0550 or by mail at 633 LaSalle St., Ottawa, IL 61350.

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

Link:

OCC Notice

November 12, 2019: EU, OFSI create Turkey sanctions program

From OFSI:

1. On 12 November 2019, the Council of the European Union adopted Council Regulation (EU) 2019/1890 (the Regulation) providing for the freezing of funds and economic resources of certain persons, entities or bodies responsible for Turkey’s unauthorised drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean.

2. At the date of this Notice, no individuals or entities have been included in Annex I of the EU Regulation.

What you must do

3. No further action is required at this time.

Links:

OFSI Notice

Council Regulation (EU) 2019/1890