Counterfeit official checks drawn on OneUnited Bank, Boston, Massachusetts, and 1st National Bank & Trust, Bradenton, Florida, are in circulation

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has learned that counterfeit cashier's checks drawn on the Los Angeles branch of OneUnited Bank, Boston, Massachusetts, are currently in circulation. The counterfeit instruments display several routing numbers, none of them belonging to the subject bank. The term "Cashier's Check" on the counterfeit instruments is neither centered nor circled, and the counterfeit instruments display an address under the logo, unlike the authentic check. Attached for your review is copy of an authentic check (void).

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

Ms. Mary Schrader
Vice President - Compliance
OneUnited Bank
133 Federal Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
Telephone: (617) 457-4491
FAX: (617) 457-4450

Counterfeit cashier's checks drawn on 1st National Bank & Trust, Bradenton, Florida, are also in circulation. The items display the institution's routing number of 063112621 and appear to be almost exact duplicates of the bank's authentic checks. Most of these counterfeit items have been presented to individuals as part of fraudulent activity involving contracting for the purchase of items via the Internet, followed by an attempt to entice those individuals into wiring "excess funds" from counterfeit checks to a third party. An example of a counterfeit item and a copy of a genuine official check (void) are attached for your review.

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

Ms. Sherri Manring
Vice President - Operations Manager
1st National Bank & Trust
5817 Manatee Avenue West
Bradenton, Florida 34209
Telephone: (941) 746-4964, extension 305
FAX: (941) 748-8126

Information about 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/Special Alert/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