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Special Alerts

SA-48-2006
March 1, 2006


TO: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (also of interest to Security Officer)
SUBJECT: Counterfeit Cashier's Checks
Summary: Counterfeit cashier's checks drawn on Easthampton Savings Bank, Easthampton, Massachusetts, are reportedly in circulation.

Easthampton Savings Bank, Easthampton, 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 211870935, which is assigned to Easthampton Savings Bank, but they are dissimilar to the authentic treasurer's checks. The counterfeit items bear a green "ESB" logo, name and branch address in the top center above a toll-free telephone number, which is not associated with the bank. The words "Cashier's Check" are printed on the lower-left side. The counterfeit items are printed on light blue paper with a herringbone pattern and a solid blue border across the top with the statement: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS SECURITY FEATURES – THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK."

Authentic treasurer's checks are issued by Travelers Express Company and display the bank's logo, name, city and state in the upper-left-hand corner. "TREASURER'S CHECK" is printed in the top-center border with an ornate blue medallion. Authentic checks are printed on gray paper with green borders on all sides.

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic check (VOID) are attached for your review.

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

Thomas W. Brown
Senior Vice President Security Officer
Easthampton Savings Bank
36 Main Street - P O Box 351
Easthampton, MA 01027-0351
Phone: (413) 527- 4111 Ext. 230
Fax: (413) 527-0519
Email: tbrown@bankesb.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 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.

 

  Sandra L. Thompson
  Acting Director
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection

Attachment (not available electronically)

NOTE: As a security precaution, the FDIC does not post to its Web site online copies of fraudulent instruments or copies of the genuine instruments that have been counterfeited. This is to avoid attempts by others to use the electronic versions of these instruments to facilitate additional fraud. Printed copies of fraudulent instruments are mailed with the Special Alert letter to the financial institutions on the letter's distribution list (generally, FDIC-supervised banks – commercial and savings). Printed copies of the 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)

Last Updated 03/01/2006 communications@fdic.gov

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