Counterfeit official checks drawn on Bank of the Southwest, Roswell, New Mexico, and Border Trust Company, South China, Maine, are in circulation

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has learned that counterfeit cashier's checks drawn on Bank of the Southwest, Roswell, New Mexico, are currently in circulation. The counterfeit instruments have the bank's routing number of 112206297, but do not display the bank's telephone number. Attached for your review are an example of a counterfeit item and a copy of an authentic check.

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

Ms. Wanda Porter
Vice President and Cashier
Bank of the Southwest
226 North Main Street
Roswell, New Mexico 88201
Telephone: (505) 627-2323
FAX: (505) 627-2321

Counterfeit treasurer's checks drawn on Border Trust Company, South China, Maine, are also in circulation. The items do not display the institution's correct routing number, but an unidentified one. The counterfeit instruments are entitled "Cashier's Check," and they look nothing like the authentic checks used by the bank. A copy of a genuine official check (void) is attached for your review.

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

Ms. Sharon Shaw
Security Officer
Border Trust Company Route 3
South China, Maine 04358
Telephone: (207) 445-4868; extension 32
FAX: (207) 445-4720

Information concerning these financial institutions or instruments may be forwarded to the FDIC's Special Activities Section, 550 17th Street, NW, Room F-4040, Washington, DC 20429, or transmitted electronically to alert@fdic.gov.

For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC's Web site at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2003/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts, Financial Institution Letters and other announcements through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/news/news/announcements/index.html.

Michael J. ZamorskiDirector