I received a letter that appears to be from a bank that states I am to receive a large sum of money, payable in cryptocurrency (Bitcoin) from the OCC. The letter indicates I need to verify my identity (name, address, and telephone number). Should I respond to the letter?
No, you should not respond in any manner to any proposal that purports to be from the OCC that requires the payment of any fee. The OCC does not participate in the transfer of funds for, or on behalf of, individuals, business enterprises, or governmental entities. Please send a copy to the OCC with your contact information via fax or mail to:
Comptroller of the Currency
Special Supervision Division
400 7th Street, S.W.
Suite 3E-218; MS 8E-12
Washington, DC 20219Phone: (202) 649-6450
Fax: (571) 293-4925
Website: www.occ.gov
Email: occalertresponses@occ.treas.gov
The OCC recommends that you also file complaints with the following agencies, as appropriate:
- 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 (IC3) (to report scams that may have originated via the internet).
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC): by telephone at (877) FTC-HELP (877-382-4357) or, for filing a complaint electronically, via the FTC’s website.
- National Consumers League (NCL): by telephone at (202) 835-3323 or by email at info@nclnet.org. To file a fraud complaint, visit the NCL fraud website.
- U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Inspector General (OIG): by telephone at (800) 359-3898 or by visiting the OIG website.
- U.S. Postal Service. 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 the U.S. Postal Service website.
For additional information regarding other types of financial fraud, please visit the OCC’s anti-fraud resources page.
Last Reviewed: June 2024
Please note: The terms "bank" and "banks" used in these answers generally refer to national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches or agencies of foreign banking organizations that are regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Find out if the OCC regulates your bank. Information provided on HelpWithMyBank.gov should not be construed as legal advice or a legal opinion of the OCC.