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Special Alerts

SA-142-2006
May 15, 2006


TO: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (also of interest to Security Officer)
SUBJECT: Counterfeit Cashier's Checks
Summary: Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Heritage Bank of Schaumburg, Schaumburg, Illinois, are reportedly in circulation.

Heritage Bank of Schaumburg, Schaumburg, Illinois, 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 071924131, which is assigned to Heritage Bank of Schaumburg, but are dissimilar to authentic checks. The counterfeit items display the bank's name and address in the top-left corner. Also, the following statement is embedded within the top border: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A GRADUATED BACKGROUND DARK TO LIGHT. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK." However, no watermark appears on the reverse side. The word "Purchaser" appears on the left side below the dollar amount line.

Authentic checks display "CASHIER'S CHECK" in the top center of the check above a notice to purchaser statement. The bank's logo, name and address are printed in the lower left, and a "PURCHASER" line appears in the upper-left corner. The following statement is embedded in the top border: "THIS CHECK IS VOID WITHOUT AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK SEAL ON THE BACK – HOLD AT ANGLE TO VIEW SEAL." Authentic cashier's checks are blue and white, and the authorized signature area includes a colored background and security features.

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:

Caroline Cuthbert
Assistant Vice President Consumer Banking
Security Officer
Heritage Bank of Schaumburg
1535 West Schaumburg Road
Schaumburg, Illinois 60194
Phone: (847) 524-4004 extension 35
Fax: (847) 524-1974
E-mail: ccuthbert@hbschaumburg.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 05/15/2006 communications@fdic.gov