First Financial Bank, El Dorado, Arkansas, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit account payable checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation. This check is reportedly associated with a lottery scam.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 282970110, which is assigned to First Financial Bank. The counterfeit items are very similar to authentic account payable checks. However, counterfeit items display the bank's address as "P.O. Box 1764, El Dorado, Arkansas 71731-1764" in the top center.

Authentic account payable checks show the bank's correct address (P.O. Box 1754, El Dorado, Arkansas 71731-1754) in the top center. Additionally, authentic checks show the bank's telephone number (870-881-5251) below the address in the top center and the letters "MP" at the end of the signature line.

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:

Melissa Jerry
Chief Financial Officer
First Financial Bank
P.O. Box 1754
El Dorado, Arkansas 71731
Telephone: (870) 863-7000
Fax: (870) 881-5395
E-mail: mjerry@ffb1.com

Alternate Contact:

Cammie Poole
Accounts Payable
First Financial Bank
P.O. Box 1754
El Dorado, Arkansas 71731
Telephone: (870) 863-7000
Fax: (870) 881-5395
E-mail: cpoole@ffb1.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)