Counterfeit FDIC expense checks are reportedly in circulation

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has received several reports that counterfeit checks fraudulently presented as being issued by the FDIC are in circulation. The counterfeit instruments are similar to authentic FDIC expense checks that were last issued in 1997; however, currently issued FDIC expense checks are significantly different. Specifically, the fraudulent instruments appear to be drawn on Mellon Bank, N.A., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, under routing number 043301601. Authentic checks currently issued by the FDIC are drawn on Bank One, Chicago, Illinois, and payable through First USA Bank, N.A., under routing number 031100283. Attached is a copy of an authentic check (void) and a copy of a counterfeit instrument for your review.

Information about these instruments may be forwarded to the FDIC's Special Activities Section, 550 17th Street, N.W., Room F-4040, 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/2004/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. Zamorski

Director
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection