Special Alert: SLS00321

The New Washington State Bank, New Washington, Indiana, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit money orders bearing the institution's name are in circulation. The counterfeit items are reportedly associated with a nationwide lottery scam. Some of the counterfeit items are included with a letter purported to be from "Continental Distribution Sweepstakes, Suite 205 , 820 St. Claude Street , Sydney , Australia , S6W9X3." Other counterfeit items are included with a letter purported to be from "BC 49 Lottery, Suite 900 , 1275 Broad Street , Victoria , BC , V2N1Y6."

The counterfeit items display the routing number 083008650, which is assigned to The New Washington State Bank, and are similar to authentic money orders in style, font and layout. However, the counterfeit items are printed on check stock with a marbled background and rounded corners on the right side. The counterfeit items display security wording embedded within the top border.

Authentic money orders are printed on check stock with a geometric background and display a silver strip on the left side. All corners are rectangular.

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic money order (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:

Donna Hostetler
Vice President
or
Andrew Robinson
The New Washington State Bank
1467 Youngstown Center
Jeffersonville, Indiana 47130
Telephone: (812) 284-9264
Fax: (812) 284-0187
E-mail: dhostetler@newwashbank.com

To report this scam or any other scam based in or mailed from Canada , please contact Phonebusters, which is a joint partnership between the Ontario Provincial Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Phonebusters is interested in receiving copies of scam letters, particularly those involving Canadian mailing addresses or telephone numbers. Records relating to the payment of advance fees should also be forwarded to Phonebusters. This information is used to assist in the strategic targeting of would-be fraudsters. Scam letters should be forwarded to the Phonebusters National Call Center (PNCC) as follows:

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).

1. Distribution: FDIC-Supervised Banks (Commercial and Savings)

Cornerstone Community Bank, Grafton, Wisconsin, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are missing, lost or stolen. These instruments display the routing number 075912673, which is assigned to Cornerstone Community Bank. Associated check numbers displayed in the top-right corner are 21733, and 21738 through 21742. The checks include the following address:

Cornerstone Community Bank
Grafton * Menomonee Falls
Grafton, WI 53024

A copy of an authentic check (VOID) is attached for your review.

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

Erik Stanton
Chief Financial Officer and Vice President
Cornerstone Community Bank
2090 Wisconsin Avenue
Post Office Box 146
Grafton, Wisconsin 53012
Phone: (262) 375-9150
Fax: (262) 375-9484
E-mail: estanton@bankwithcornerstone.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)

The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) of Canada has published the attached "Warning Notice" (Issue No. 71), which contains the names of five entities recently brought to OSFI's attention. This warning notice states that the names listed are not authorized, federally regulated financial institutions (Canadian) and may be part of advance fee scams (see also OSFI's Warning Notice No. 23, dated February 2002).

The names listed in Warning Notice No. 71 are:

• Rockval Holding Corporation, Saint-Émile, Québec;
• East Bonding Canada Corporation ("East Bonding"), Saint-Émile, Québec;
• Societé Canadienne de Cautionnement (Scc) Inc. (otherwise known as Canadian Bonding Corporation), Saint-Émile, Québec;
• Gestion Lamca Inc. (otherwise known as Lamca Holdings Inc.), Saint-Émile, Québec; and
• Lincoln Financial Trust, Toronto, Ontario.

These entities, or persons purported to represent the entities, are not insured by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC). Any proposed transactions involving these entities should be viewed with extreme caution.

Each "Warning Notice," beginning with Issue No. 1 through OSFI's latest "Warning Notice," may be found at: http://www.osfi-bsif.gc.ca/osfi/index_e.aspx?ArticleID=166 .

To report any scam based in or mailed from Canada , please contact Phonebusters, which is a joint partnership between the Ontario Provincial Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Phonebusters is interested in receiving copies of scam letters, particularly those involving Canadian mailing addresses or telephone numbers. Records relating to the payment of advance fees should also be forwarded to Phonebusters. This information is used to assist in the strategic targeting of would-be fraudsters. Scam letters should be forwarded to the Phonebusters National Call Center (PNCC) as follows:

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 http://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: Can be found at: http://www.osfi-bsif.gc.ca/app/DocRepository/1/eng/consumer/notices/Warning_Notice_71_e.pdf - PDF 95k (PDF Help)

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

Sterling Savings Bank, Spokane, Washington, 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 are reportedly associated with a lottery scam. The counterfeit items are accompanied by correspondence purported to be from "OZ Lotteries," "OZ Lotto," or "OZL Incorporated." The letters include a Seattle , Washington , address and refer to "processing or insurance fees." Recipients are directed to call 1-403-389-6481 to activate the "claim."

The counterfeit items display the routing number 022000868, which is assigned to the account of Integrated Payment Systems, Inc., Englewood , Colorado , at Citibank, N.A., Buffalo , New York . Sterling Savings Bank issues official checks through this account. The counterfeit items also display a Bellevue , Washington , mailing address below the bank's name and logo in the top-left corner. Security wording is not shown on the face of the counterfeit items.

Authentic official checks have a patterned border, with security wording beneath the pattern along the top edge. The words "OFFICIAL CHECK" are 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 wording "All The Bank You'll Ever Need" appears below the bank's name in the top-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:

Deposit Operations
Telephone: (509) 227-6987

OR

Linda Barksdale
Assistant Vice President and Fraud Investigator
Sterling Savings Bank
111 North Wall Street
Spokane, Washington 99201
Telephone: (425) 452-8149
Fax: (425) 451-0940
E-mail: linda.barksdale@sterlingsavings.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)

Brentwood Bank, Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, 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 letters from Alliance Solutions, Inc., regarding either "Funds for Payment of Processing Fees" or "Award Claim Final Notification." The correspondence displays a Kitchener , Ontario , address and a telephone number of 1-519-694-7445.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 243373112, which is assigned to Brentwood Bank, but are dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks. The counterfeit items display the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" on the left side, below the bank's name. The bank's name, location and a toll-free telephone number, which is not associated with the bank, appear in the top-center portion of the items. The printed dollar amount and date are displayed in a table format in the center of the items and a lock symbol is shown on the bottom-right side.

Authentic checks display the bank's logo, name, street address, city, state and zip code in the top-left portion, with similar information repeated along 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:

Carol Busa
Deposit Compliance Officer
Brentwood Bank
411 McMurray Road, Suite 200
Bethel Park, Pennsylvania 15102
Telephone: (412) 409-9100, extension 259
Fax: (412) 409-3293
E-mail: cbusa@brentwoodbank.com

To report this scam or any other scam based in or mailed from Canada , please contact Phonebusters, which is a joint partnership between the Ontario Provincial Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Phonebusters is interested in receiving copies of scam letters, particularly those involving Canadian mailing addresses or telephone numbers. Records relating to the payment of advance fees should also be forwarded to Phonebusters. This information is used to assist in the strategic targeting of would-be fraudsters. Scam letters should be forwarded to the Phonebusters National Call Center (PNCC) as follows:

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)