Special Alert: SLS00329

Home Federal Savings Bank, Detroit, Michigan, 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 of 272071223, which is assigned to Home Federal Savings Bank; however, the fraudulent items are markedly dissimilar to authentic bank checks. The counterfeit items display an encapsulated foil holograph embedded with the wording "ORIGINAL FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT" in the top-center portion of the items. In addition, the following statement is embedded in the top border in small print: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND IN MICROPRINTING. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICAL WATERMARK."

Authentic checks display a scroll-pattern border and display the following statement beneath the amount line: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A MULTI-COLOR BACKGROUND, A MICRO-PRINT SIGNATURE LINE, AND A HOLOGRAPHIC FOIL TITLE; ABSENCE OF THESE FEATURES WILL INDICATE A COPY."

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic cashier's 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:

Alvin Burks
Office Manager
Home Federal Savings Bank
9108 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, Michigan 48202
Telephone: (313) 873-3310
Fax: (313) 873-6395
E-mail: kmgriff@alamericabank.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)

Winona National Bank, Winona, Minnesota, 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 091900216, which is assigned to Winona National Bank, but are dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks. The counterfeit items display the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" inside of a box in the top-center portion of the item. The bank's name, location, and a toll-free telephone number, which is not associated with the bank, appear in the top-left corner. The printed dollar amount is preceded by large arrows.

Authentic checks display the bank's name and location in the top center and the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" in the lower-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:

Jeff Peatrowsky
Senior vice President
Winona National Bank
P.O. Box 499
Winona, Minnesota 55987
Telephone: (507) 454-9223
Fax: (507) 454-9208
E-mail: jeffp@winonanationalbank.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 Bank of Romney, Romney, West Virginia, 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 052201925, which is assigned to The Bank of Romney, but are dissimilar to authentic checks. The counterfeit items display the words "OFFICIAL CHECK" in large letters in the middle of the item. In addition, the bank's name is displayed in the upper-left corner and repeated in the lower-left corner along with the bank's city, state and zip code.

Authentic checks are referred to as "PERSONAL MONEY ORDERS" and display the bank's logo, name and location in the lower-left corner. Lines for the remitter's signature, address, city and state are displayed in the lower-right corner.

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic personal 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:

Jo Ann Hott
BSA Officer
or
Jannell Hill
Chief Operations Officer
The Bank of Romney
95 E. Main Street
Romney, West Virginia 26757
Telephone: (304) 822-3541
Fax: (304) 822-3547
E-mail: hottjo@bankofromney.net or hillj@bankofromney.net

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)

North Easton Savings Bank, North Easton, Massachusetts, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 011000138, which is assigned to Bank of America, Richmond , Virginia . North Easton Savings Bank issues checks through an account at Bank of America. The counterfeit items display the following statement embedded in the top border: "THIS CHECK IS VOID WITHOUT A COLORED BACKGROUND AND AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK CERTIFICATION SEAL ON THE BACK. HOLD AT ANGLE TO VIEW SEAL." In addition, the counterfeit items display a "02355" zip code, which is incorrect

Authentic checks display the following statement embedded in the bottom border: "THIS CHECK CONTAINS A TRUE WATERMARK – HOLD TO LIGHT 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 can be modified and that additional variations may be presented.

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

Robert Berg
Executive Vice President
North Easton Savings Bank
P.O. Box 299
North Easton, Massachusetts 02356
Telephone: (508) 238-2007
E-mail: rberg@northeastonsavingsbank.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 State of Florida has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit checks are in circulation. These checks appear to be drawn on a Bank of America account and display "Division of Treasury, 200 East Gaines Street, Tallahassee , FL 32399" as the accountholder. To date, the counterfeit checks have been presented in New York and New Jersey . Also, it appears these counterfeit checks are being deposited at automated teller machines (ATMs).

Financial institutions and consumers who receive State of Florida checks under suspicious circumstances, or who have received checks with the aforementioned characteristics, may contact Mary Garvin with the Florida Treasury at (850) 413-3379 or via e-mail at Mary.Gavin@fldfs.com for further information.

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)