<p>WASHINGTON – The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has advised financial institutions to pay special attention to their teller lines. According to the OCC, organized gangs are now recruiting people to apply for teller positions for the sole purpose of providing access to the institution's operating systems and customer access information. Here is how it works: The gang member provides stolen information to the teller who keys the information into the institution's automated systems so it will appear as if the member visited the teller window. The perpetrators stay under the radar by keeping the amounts under supervisory approval limits. Tellers are reportedly being paid several hundred dollars per transaction to assist in the fraud scheme. In some cases, tellers already employed by financial institutions are being recruited and to persuade them the gangs often use coercion and threats of bodily harm. Some tips to prevent the scam include the following: using only first names on badges and desk signs; periodically evaluating internal controls over the teller area; shredding old employee lists or memos that include full names; and encouraging employees to report suspicious behavior or notify a supervisor immediately if they believe gang members are trying to recruit them or other tellers.</p>