Special Alert: SLS00330

Columbia State Bank (doing business as Columbia Bank), Tacoma, Washington, 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 include the routing number 022000868, which is assigned to Citibank, N.A., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey . The counterfeit items are dissimilar to authentic money orders. The counterfeit items display the bank's logo, name, address and a phone number, which is not associated with the bank, in the upper-right corner. The wording "PAYABLE AT CITIBANK, N.A., NEW YORK " is displayed in the lower-left corner and "MONEY ORDER" is displayed in the top center of the items.

Authentic money orders display the bank's logo and name with the following restriction statement underneath in the upper-left corner: "NOT VALID FOR MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,000.00)." The words "MONEY ORDER" are displayed in the lower-left corner; underneath are the bank name, city and state. Authentic money orders display the bank logo "CB" in a green tiled pattern as background. The following statement is embedded within the top border: "THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICRO PRINTING." Embedded within the bottom border is the statement: "THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS DOCUMENT HAS AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK."

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:

Michelle Hill
Fraud Investigation Officer
Columbia Bank
P O Box 2156, MS OP-2119
Tacoma, Washington 98401-2156
Telephone: (253) 471-4081
Fax: (253) 471-5030
E-mail: mhill@columbiabank.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)

Country Bank for Savings, Ware, Massachusetts, 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 211870980, which is assigned to Country Bank for Savings, but are dissimilar to authentic checks. The counterfeit items display the bank name (all on one line) and address in the upper-left corner. The bank name and city are repeated in the top-center portion of the items above the words "Cashier's Check." The counterfeit items display the following statement embedded in the top border: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A GRADUATED BACKGROUND: DARK TO LIGHT. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICAL WATERMARK."

Authentic checks display only the bank's name on three lines in the upper-left corner. "TREASURERS CHECK" is displayed in the top-center portion of the check. The bank's name, city and state are displayed beneath the written dollar amount line.

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:

April E. Gay
Assistant Vice President/Security Officer
Country Bank for Savings
75 Main Street
Ware, Massachusetts 01082
Telephone: 800-322-8233, Ext. 2102
Fax: (413) 967-0927
E-mail: agay@countrybank.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)

First American Bank and Trust, Vacherie, Louisiana, 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 065402423, which is assigned to First American Bank and Trust. The items also display the bank's name in a dark-shaded box in the top-left corner. A star appears below the letter "F" in the bank's name.

Authentic checks display the bank's logo, consisting of a star-and-stripes pattern, in the top-left corner beneath the words "First American" and to the left of the word "Bank." Authentic checks also have security wording 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:

Michael Guillot
Security Director
First American Bank and Trust
P.O. Box 550
Vacherie, Louisiana 70090
Telephone: (225) 265-2265
Fax: (225) 265-9398
E-mail: mguillot@fabt.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)

Bank 2, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 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 lottery scam. The notification states that the recipient has unclaimed prize money and includes a check to cover processing charges.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 103012966, which is assigned to Bank 2, and are similar to authentic cashier's checks. The counterfeit items have the following security statement embedded in the top border: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING IN THE BORDER. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES A UNIQUE CHECK IDENTITY BAR CODE AND AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK HOLD AT AN ANGLE TO VIEW." The counterfeit items are bright blue in color.

Authentic checks have the following security statement located beneath the check protector line: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A MULTI-COLOR BACKGROUND A MICRO-PRINT SIGNATURE LINE AND A HOLOGRAPIC FOIL TITLE; ABSENCE OF THESE FEATURES WILL INDICATE A COPY." Authentic checks have a scroll design border with an encapsulated foil holograph embedded in the top center with the wording: "ORIGINAL FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT."

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:

Mary Schroeder
Operation/Security Officer
Bank 2
909 S. Meridian
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73108
Telephone: (405) 946-2265
Fax: (405) 946-4320
E-mail: marys@bank2.biz

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)