First State Bank, Mesquite, Texas, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation. The items are reportedly associated with a "Yahoo Lottery" scam.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 111923898, which is assigned to First State Bank, but are dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks. The counterfeit items graduate in color (from blue to pink) with a dark blue top border. They display a security feature statement embedded in the top border and along the bottom border between two padlocks. A shaded rectangular signature area contains the title "Vice President."

Authentic checks are light blue with a black band across the middle containing the written dollar amount in white print. The bank's telephone number appears below its name, logo (the word "Mesquite" on a state of Texas image), and street address in the top-center area. A shaded rectangle signature area contains the title "Vice President and Cashier."

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:

Brenda Sanders
Vice President and Cashier
First State Bank
917 Military Parkway
Mesquite, Texas 75149
Telephone: (972) 285-6311
Fax: (972) 289-8042
E-mail: bsanders@firststatebank.com

Alternate contact:

Deborah Edney
Assistant Vice President and Assistant Cashier
First State Bank
917 Military Parkway
Mesquite, Texas 75149
Telephone: (972) 285-6311
Fax: (972) 289-8042
E-mail: dedney@firststatebank.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/2008/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)