Special Alert: SLS00295

Special Alerts

Mercantile Southern Maryland Bank, Leonardtown, Maryland, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit checks bearing the name of Calvert Bank and Trust Company are in circulation. Calvert Bank and Trust Company was previously merged into Mercantile Southern Maryland Bank.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 053101121, which is assigned to Branch Banking and Trust (BB&T). The former Calvert Bank and Trust Company issued cashier's checks using a payable-through account at BB&T. The counterfeit items display the name and address of the former Calvert Bank and Trust Company and a telephone number, not associated with the bank, in the upper-left corner. "TELLER CHECK" is printed in the top center of the counterfeit items.

Authentic Mercantile Southern Maryland Bank checks display the routing number 055001122. The bank's logo, name, city and state are printed across the top of the check, and "CASHIER'S CHECK" is printed in the lower-left corner.

A copy of a counterfeit item and a copy of an authentic check (VOID) are attached for your review.

Any information you have concerning this matter should be brought to the attention of:

Paul Reamy
Security Officer
Mercantile Southern Maryland Bank
P.O. Box 655
Leonardtown, Maryland 20650
Telephone: (301) 737-3742
E-mail: Paul.Reamy@mercantile.com

Information about counterfeit items, cyber-fraud incidents and other fraudulent activity may be forwarded to the FDIC's Cyber-Fraud and Financial Crimes Section, 550 17th Street, N.W., Room F-4004, Washington, D.C. 20429, or transmitted electronically to alert@fdic.gov. Information related to federal deposit insurance or consumer issues should be submitted to the FDIC using an online form that can be accessed at http://www2.fdic.gov/starsmail/index.asp.

For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC's Web site at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2006/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

Attachment (not available electronically)

NOTE: As a security precaution, the FDIC does not post to its Web site online copies of fraudulent instruments or copies of the genuine instruments that have been counterfeited. This is to avoid attempts by others to use the electronic versions of these instruments to facilitate additional fraud. Printed copies of fraudulent instruments are mailed with the Special Alert letter to the financial institutions on the letter's distribution list (generally, FDIC-supervised banks – commercial and savings). Printed copies of the Special Alert and its attachment(s) may also be obtained from the FDIC's Public Information Center, telephone: 1-877-275-3342 or 703-562-2200; fax: 703-562-2296; or e-mail: publicinfo@fdic.gov).

Distribution: FDIC-Supervised Banks (Commercial and Savings)

Special Alerts

Gateway Bank & Trust Company, Elizabeth City, North Carolina, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit official checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 011007092, which is assigned to Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Company, Boston, Massachusetts . The bank issues official checks through MoneyGram Payment Systems Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota , payable through Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Company. The counterfeit items are similar in appearance to authentic checks. However, the counterfeit items have the following statement embedded in the top border: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK." The routing number appears below the bottom border line of the counterfeit items.

Authentic checks display the following statement printed below the top border: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK PRINTED ON THE BACK. THE FRONT OF THE DOCUMENT HAS A MICROPRINT SIGNATURE LINE. ABSENCE OF THESE FEATURES WILL INDICATE A COPY." Authentic checks also display the words "PAY TO THE ORDER OF" on the left side, and an authorized signature line in the lower-right corner. Authentic checks are printed on green paper with green print and have ornate borders on all sides. The routing number appears above the bottom border.

A copy of a counterfeit item and a copy of an authentic check (VOID) are attached for your review.

Any information you have concerning this matter should be brought to the attention of:

James Hinton, Jr.
CRA & Risk Management Officer
Gateway Bank & Trust Company
12 Corporate Drive
Elizabeth City, North Carolina 27909
Telephone: (252) 331-4009, ext. 8053
Fax: (252) 334-1651

Information about counterfeit items, cyber-fraud incidents and other fraudulent activity may be forwarded to the FDIC's Cyber-Fraud and Financial Crimes Section, 550 17th Street, N.W., Room F-4004, Washington, D.C. 20429, or transmitted electronically to alert@fdic.gov. Information related to federal deposit insurance or consumer issues should be submitted to the FDIC using an online form that can be accessed at http://www2.fdic.gov/starsmail/index.asp.

For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC's Web site at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2006/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

Attachment (not available electronically)

NOTE: As a security precaution, the FDIC does not post to its Web site online copies of fraudulent instruments or copies of the genuine instruments that have been counterfeited. This is to avoid attempts by others to use the electronic versions of these instruments to facilitate additional fraud. Printed copies of fraudulent instruments are mailed with the Special Alert letter to the financial institutions on the letter's distribution list (generally, FDIC-supervised banks – commercial and savings). Printed copies of the Special Alert and its attachment(s) may also be obtained from the FDIC's Public Information Center, telephone: 1-877-275-3342 or 703-562-2200; fax: 703-562-2296; or e-mail: publicinfo@fdic.gov).

Distribution: FDIC-Supervised Banks (Commercial and Savings)