East Boston Savings Bank, Boston, Massachusetts, 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 211070120, which is assigned to East Boston Savings Bank. The items are markedly dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks. The counterfeit items display the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" inside a rectangle centered within the top border. A white thumb print area with "RUB HERE" printed twice is displayed in the top-right corner. An unassociated logo, the bank's name and an address ("87 Prospect Street, Peabody, MA 01980") that is not associated with the bank are in the lower-left corner. The statement "Two Signatures Required For Over $5,000.00" is printed above two signature lines in the lower-right corner. A security padlock and statement are shown on the right side.

Authentic cashier's checks display a security feature statement below the top border. The bank's compass logo, name and address ("Ten Meridian St., East Boston, MA 02128-1963") appear in the top-left corner. The phrases "MEMBER FDIC" and "MEMBER DIF" are printed in the lower-left corner. The statement "COUNTERSIGNATURE REQUIRED OVER FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS" appears below the first signature line and the words "AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE" appear below the second signature line in the lower-right corner.

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:

Jim LeBlanc
Assistant Vice President and Security Officer
East Boston Savings Bank
10 Meridian Street
East Boston, Massachusetts 02128
Telephone: (617) 568-4231
Fax: (617) 568-4262
E-mail: leblanc@ebsb.com

Alternate contact:

Joseph Mancini
Assistant Security Officer
East Boston Savings Bank
10 Meridian Street
East Poston, Massachusetts 02128
Telephone: (617) 568-4222
Fax: (617) 568-4262
E-mail: mancinij@ebsb.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)