Special Alert: SLS00318

Wilshire State Bank, Los Angeles, California, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 122038251, which is assigned to Wilshire State Bank, but are dissimilar to authentic items. The counterfeit items display a telephone number, which is not associated with the bank, below the bank's logo, name and the Valley Office ( Northridge , California ) address. The statement "THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND ON WHITE PAPER" is embedded in the top border. The statement "THE BACK OF THIS DOCUMENT HAS AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK - HOLD AT AN ANGLE TO VIEW" is embedded in the bottom border.

Authentic Wilshire State Bank checks are printed on blue-colored paper and display security feature descriptions in script font below the "PAY TO THE ORDER OF" line. Authentic items have a padlock symbol in the right-center portion of the check.

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic check (VOID) are attached for your review. Be aware that the appearance of counterfeit items may be modified and that additional variations are possible.

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

Karen May
BSA Officer
3200 Wilshire Blvd. 7th Floor
Los Angeles, California 90010
Phone: (213) 427-7710
Fax: (213) 388-1315
E-mail: karenmay@wilshirebank.com;

or

Sora Park
Operations Administrator
Phone: (213) 427-2464
Fax: (213) 639-8035
E-mail: sorapark@wilshirebank.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 electronic images of fraudulent items or authentic checks that have been counterfeited. This is to avoid attempts by others to use these instruments to facilitate additional fraud. Financial institutions can view images of the fraudulent items and authentic checks (marked as VOID) using the FDIC's free, secure Web site, FDICconnect. (See more information about FDICconnect at http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/financial/2006/fil06032.html.) Printed copies of each 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)

Bank of the Ozarks, Little Rock, Arkansas, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation. The counterfeit items are reportedly associated with a sweepstakes scam. Correspondence accompanying the counterfeit items contains the letterhead of "International Lottery Sweepstakes, 2240 W. Sahara Avenue, Suite 300 , Las Vegas , NV 89108 ." The letter alerts recipients of their winning status and provides instructions to contact their agent.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 082907273, which is assigned to Bank of the Ozarks, and are similar to authentic checks in appearance. However, the counterfeit items are printed on check stock with blue and white marbling in the background. The items also have a dark-colored top border with the following security statement embedded: "THIS CHECK IS VOID WITHOUT A BLUE BACKGROUND AND AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK ON THE BACK. HOLD AT ANGLE TO VIEW."

Authentic cashier's checks are printed on light blue security paper and display the word "REMITTER" in the top-left corner. The checks do not have a security statement embedded in the top border.

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic check (VOID) are attached for your review. Be aware that the appearance of counterfeit items can be modified and that additional variations may be presented.

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

Ashley Anhalt
Security Officer
Bank of the Ozarks
12615 Chenal Parkway
Little Rock, Arkansas 72211
Telephone: (501) 978-2245
Fax: (501) 978-2340
E-mail: aanhalt1@bankozarks.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 website 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 electronic images of fraudulent items or authentic checks that have been counterfeited. This is to avoid attempts by others to use these instruments to facilitate additional fraud. Financial institutions can view images of the fraudulent items and authentic checks (marked as VOID) using the FDIC's free, secure Web site, FDICconnect. (See more information about FDICconnect at http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/financial/2006/fil06032.html.) Printed copies of each 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)

Community Banking Company of Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald, Georgia, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation in association with two letters for unclaimed winnings.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 061204913, which is assigned to Community Banking Company of Fitzgerald, but are dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks. The counterfeit items display "CASHIER'S CHECK" inside a box near the top-center portion of the items. Centered on the right side of the items are "DATE" and "AMOUNT" boxes with the applicable date or amount displayed directly beneath the captions. Other than a signature line, no printed lines are displayed on the items.

Authentic cashier's checks have a scroll border. Security wording is displayed across the top border. "CASHIER'S CHECK" is printed within a box that is incorporated into the top border. Ornate designs are displayed to the right and left sides of the box. The checks have preprinted lines for "DATE," "PAY TO THE ORDER OF," "REMITTER" and "DOLLARS."

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic check (VOID) are attached for your review. Be aware that the appearance of counterfeit items can be modified and that additional variations may be presented.

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

Matt McCranie
Assistant Loan Officer
Community Banking Company of Fitzgerald
P.O. Box 130
Fitzgerald, Georgia 31750
Telephone: (229) 423-4321
Fax: (229) 423-6656
E-mail: mmccranie@cbcfitzgerald.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 website 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 electronic images of fraudulent items or authentic checks that have been counterfeited. This is to avoid attempts by others to use these instruments to facilitate additional fraud. Financial institutions can view images of the fraudulent items and authentic checks (marked as VOID) using the FDIC's free, secure Web site, FDICconnect. (See more information about FDICconnect at http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/financial/2006/fil06032.html.) Printed copies of each 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)

American National Bank, Omaha, Nebraska, has contacted the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation. The items are reportedly associated with a lottery scam. Correspondence accompanying the counterfeit items contains the letterhead of "BRITISH AMERICAN WORLD LOTTERY." The letter notifies recipients of their winning status in the International Mega Million Jackpot and explains that the enclosed check is to assist with the payment of legal notarization, stamp duty insurance and processing fees. The recipient is further instructed to contact the processing officer at a specific telephone number provided in the letter.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 104000854, which is assigned to American National Bank, and they are similar to cashier's checks previously issued by the bank through 2005. The counterfeit items are light blue in color and contain the bank's logo in the center, followed by "AMERICAN NATIONAL BANK, American Dreams Come True, P.O. Box 2130 , Omaha , NE 68144 ."

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

Jim Burns
Senior Vice President
American National Bank
8990 West Dodge Road
Omaha, Nebraska 68114
Phone: (402) 399-5026
Fax: (402) 399-5567
E-mail: jburns@anbank.com

Additional information about this matter may be brought to the OCC's attention at:

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
Special Supervision Division MS 6-4
250 E Street, SW
Washington, DC 20219
Fax: (202) 874-5214
E-mail: occalertresponses@occ.treas.gov
Internet: http://www.occ.treas.gov

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 website 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.

Savannah Bank, N.A., Savannah, New York, has contacted the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation. The items are reportedly associated with a lottery scam. Correspondence accompanying the counterfeit items contains the letterhead of "Switzerland Lottery." Letters notify recipients of their winning status and instruct the recipients to "kindly deposit or cash the [$2,400.00] check to pay for tax and clearance fees." Recipients are further instructed to contact Kingston Financial Management Group, subsidiary of Switzerland Trust Corporation, 40 Melwood Ave , Halifax , Nova Scotia B3H 1A1 , Telephone: 1-780-695-3962. The mailing envelopes are postmarked in Canada .

The counterfeit items display the routing number 022311117, which is assigned to Savannah Bank, N.A. They are printed on a blue-speckled paper and contain security statements within both the top and bottom borders. The following security statement is printed along the top border: "FOR SECURITY PURPOSES, THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING IN THE BORDER." The following statement is printed along the bottom border: "THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS DOCUMENT INCLUDES A UNIQUE CHECK IDENTITY BAR CODE AND AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK- HOLD AT AN ANGLE TO VIEW." A toll-free telephone number, printed as 1-800-963-2491, which is not associated with the bank, appears in the top-center portion of the counterfeit items.

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

Thomas Endres
Security Officer
Savannah Bank, N.A.
1565 Main Street
Savannah, New York 13146
Phone: (315) 365-6045
Fax: (315) 365-3137
E-mail: tendres@tds.net

Additional information about this matter may be brought to the OCC's attention at:

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
Special Supervision Division MS 6-4
250 E Street, SW
Washington, DC 20219
Fax: (202) 874-5214
E-mail: occalertresponses@occ.treas.gov
Internet: http://www.occ.treas.gov

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 website 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.

Distribution: FDIC-Supervised Banks (Commercial and Savings)