Special Alert: SLS00319

Pacific International Bank, Seattle, Washington, 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 and are accompanied by a letter from the "Investment & Trust Co." The letters state that recipients were previously notified of their winnings and should contact the claims division office to claim the winnings. The letters further state that capital gains are subject to tax based on a treaty between the United States and Europe thereby requiring recipients to return 10 percent of the winnings.

The counterfeit items include the routing number 125008657, which is assigned to Pacific International Bank. The following security statement is embedded in the top border: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK." In addition, the counterfeit items display a square-shaped logo and "PIBANK" in the top-left corner above the bank's address and a toll-free telephone number, which is not associated with the bank. The FDIC logo and the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" are centered at the top. The counterfeit items have two signature lines.

Authentic cashier's checks display a square logo in the upper-left corner with the bank's name shown as "PIBANK," "Pacific," "International," and "Bank" on four separate lines directly to the right of the logo. In a column to the right of the bank's name are the address and a local telephone number. "Cashiers Check" is printed in the top-right corner.

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 about this matter should be brought to the attention of:

Sue Gammon
Vice President - Operations
Pacific International Bank
1155 North 130th Street
Seattle, Washington 98133
Telephone: (206) 306-7900
Fax: (206) 306-0501
E-mail: sue.lee1@pibank.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)

Ireland Bank, Malad City, Idaho, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit official checks bearing the fictitious name "National City Bank, Washington, D.C.," are in circulation. The counterfeit items display the routing number 124100857, which is assigned to Ireland Bank.

The counterfeit items are dissimilar to authentic checks. " National City " appears twice in the upper-left corner next to and above a Washington , D.C. , address. A telephone number, which is not associated with Ireland Bank, is printed below the address on some counterfeit items. "Payable Through Ireland Bank" is printed in the lower-left corner above a "REMITTER" line.

Authentic checks display the Ireland Bank logo, slogan, telephone number and address in the upper-left corner. The words "OFFICIAL CHECK" are printed in the top center. The following statement is embedded within the top border: "THE FACE OF THIS CHECK HAS A REFLECTIVE METALLIC HOLOGRAM, GREEN BACKGROUND AND MICRO PRINTING." The following statement is embedded within the bottom border: "THE BACK OF THIS CHECK CONTAINS A WATERMARK - HOLD AT AN ANGLE TO VIEW."

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:

Regene A. Jones
Compliance Officer
Ireland Bank
33 Bannock Street
Malad, Idaho 83252
Telephone: (208) 766-2211
Fax: (208) 766-2361
E-mail: rjones@ireland-bank.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)

Peoples Bank of Graceville, Graceville, Florida, 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 063209660, which is assigned to Peoples Bank of Graceville. The counterfeit items are similar to authentic checks, but include the following security statement within the top border: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK." The counterfeit items include the bank's name and mailing address adjacent to a logo in the top-left corner. In the bottom-left corner, the word "REMITTER" is displayed.

Authentic cashier's checks include a local telephone number in addition to the bank's logo, name and mailing address in the top-left corner. A line is printed directly above the word "REMITTER" in the bottom-left corner.

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:

Carole Smith
Executive Vice President
Peoples Bank of Graceville
P.O. Box 596
Graceville, Florida 32440
Telephone: (850) 263-3267
Fax: (850) 263-7597
E-mail: carolsmith@peoplesgraceville.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)

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is aware of e-mails appearing to be sent from the FDIC that are asking recipients to install unknown software on personal computers. Currently, the subject line of the e-mail includes the phrase "Urgent Notification - Security Reminder." The e-mail is fraudulent and was not sent by the FDIC.

The fraudulent e-mail describes "a small client utility"—referred to as "ProBank"—that recipients are asked to install on home and business computers. The e-mail claims:

"...this utility only starts whenever an online session is opened with a Financial
Institution insured by the FDIC, thus it will never interfere with any programs installed
on your computer. Please help us combat fraud by installing, ProBank on any computer
that is used to open an Online Banking session."

The e-mail requests that recipients click on a hyperlink that appears to be related to the FDIC, which directs recipients to an unknown executable file to be downloaded. While the FDIC is working with the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) to determine the exact effects of the executable file, recipients should consider the intent of the software as a malicious attempt to collect personal or confidential information, some of which may be used to gain unauthorized access to on-line banking services or to conduct identity theft.

Financial institutions and consumers should NOT access the link or download the executable file provided within the body of the e-mail.

The e-mail also asks financial institutions to "advertise and market the ProBank's existence to employees, suppliers, third-party service providers and customers." Financial intuitions should NOT advertise the existence of the software. Rather, they should educate customers and staff about the existence of these and similar phishing e-mails.

The FDIC is attempting to identify the source of the e-mails and disrupt the transmission. Until this is achieved, consumers and financial institutions are asked to report any similar attempts to obtain this information to the FDIC by sending information to alert@fdic.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.

Prosperity Bank, St. Augustine, Florida, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that fraudulent cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The fraudulent items display the routing number 113122655, which is assigned to Prosperity Bank, El Campo , Texas . The fraudulent items are pink in color and display the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" in the top-center portion. A circular logo, bank name, address, "MEMBER FDIC" and a telephone number, which is not associated with the bank, are printed in the upper- left corner. A "NOTICE TO CUSTOMERS" is printed in the lower-left corner, and a statement regarding security features is embedded within the top border.

Prosperity Bank, St. Augustine , Florida , does not issue cashier's checks. Prosperity Bank does, however, issue teller checks with a blue background.

A copy of a fraudulent item is 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:

Brandon Oborne
Assistant Vice President
Fraud and Forgery Officer
Post Office Box 1690
St. Augustine, Florida 32085
Phone: (904) 824-9111, Extension 3022
Fax: (904) 829-0826
E-mail: oborneb@prosperitybank.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)