Counterfeit cashier's checks drawn on The Citizens Banking Company, Sandusky, Ohio, are reportedly in circulation

The Citizens Banking Company, Sandusky, Ohio, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that fraudulent cashier's checks are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the proper routing number of 041201635, which is assigned to The Citizens Banking Company. There are at least two versions of the counterfeit checks in circulation, and both are dissimilar to authentic checks. The first version of the counterfeit check has a background that changes from green on the left-hand side of the check to blue on the right-hand side of the check. The signature area is included in a fingerprint check box. The second version has a green background. Both counterfeit check versions have disclosures and statements surrounding the signature line that do not appear on authentic checks. In addition, the wording on the amount line is different. Copies of two counterfeit items and one authentic item (VOID) are attached for your review.

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

Geriann M. Sartor
Operations Officer
Citizens Banking Company
100 E. Water Street
Sandusky, Ohio 44870
Telephone: (419) 625-4121
Fax: (419) 621-1485
Email: gmsartor@citizensbankco.com

Information about these instruments 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. 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/2005/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

Michael J. ZamorskiDirector
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection