Eastern Bank, Boston, Massachusetts, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit treasurer's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 011301798, which is assigned to Eastern Bank. The items are dissimilar to authentic treasurer's checks. The counterfeit items have shaded top and bottom borders and display a security feature statement embedded in the top border. The statement "SIGNATURE AREA CONTAINS A KNIGHT AND FINGERPRINT CHEQUE WORDING" appears in the lower-right corner along with a "U.S. Patent" number. The words "AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE" appear only below the bottom signature line in the lower-right side.

Authentic treasurer's checks are blue and have two thin lines forming the outlining border. The words "AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE" appear below both signature lines in the lower-right side.

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:

Daniel J. Tate
Assistant Vice President
Corporate Security
Eastern Bank
One Eastern Place - EP4-19
Lynn, Massachusetts 01901
Telephone: (781) 598-7900
Fax: (781) 598-7907
E-mail: d.tate@easternbk.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)