Each depositor insured to at least $250,000 per insured bank

Chester Bancorp, Inc., Chester, Illinois, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the names Chester National Bank, Chester, Illinois, and Chester National Bank of Missouri, Perryville, Missouri, are in circulation. These items are reportedly associated with a mystery shopping scam originating in Canada.

The counterfeit items display the routing numbers 281970881 or 081907135, which are assigned to Chester National Bank, Chester, Illinois. The counterfeit items are similar to authentic official checks but display security feature descriptions within the top and bottom borders. The words "CASHIER'S CHECK" and "DRAWER: CHESTER NATIONAL BANK" appear in the upper-right corner. The bank's logo, name (printed twice), city, state and a telephone number, which is not associated with the bank, are displayed in the upper-left corner. Two signature lines, both preceded by "PER," are in the lower-right corner. A padlock icon is embedded within the right border. "REMITTER" is printed in the lower-left corner. The items have a "VOID" background when copied.

Neither Chester National Bank nor Chester National Bank of Missouri issue cashier's checks; however, both banks issue official checks. Both of the banks' official checks are identical except for the bank names and routing numbers. Authentic checks display an indemnity bond "NOTICE TO CUSTOMER" and the word "REMITTER" in the upper-left corner. "OFFICIAL CHECK" is printed near the lower-left corner. The bank's logo, name, and address are in the top center. The bank's logo is also displayed as a watermark in the center.

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 Jo Homan
Treasurer and Vice President
Chester National Bank
1112 State Street
P. O. Box 327
Chester, Illinois 62233
Telephone: (618) 826-5038
Fax: (618) 826-5727
E-mail: mjh@chesternationalbank.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:

Mail:	Box 686 North Bay, Ontario, Canada P1B 8J8
Web site:	www.phonebusters.com
Telephone:	+1 (888) 495-8501 (toll-free in Canada and the USA)
Fax:	+1 (888) 654-9426 (toll-free in Canada and the USA)
E-mail:	info@phonebusters.com
Advance fee fraud (including Nigerian and lottery letters): wafl@phonebusters.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. Questions 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/2007/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)