Counterfeit cashier's checks drawn on North Fork Bank, Mattituck, New York, are reportedly in circulation

North Fork Bank, Mattituck, New York, contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 021407912, which is assigned to North Fork Bank, Mattituck, New York. The counterfeit items are similar in layout and font to the authentic checks. However, the security wording on the top edge of the check is different. On authentic checks, the wording begins with "WARNING: Original document has an artificial watermark on reverse side…." On the counterfeit items, the wording states, "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND…." Counterfeit items are reportedly printed on dark green, marbled paper and display a telephone number. Authentic checks do not display a telephone number. A copy of a counterfeit item and an authentic check (VOID) are attached for your review.

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

Ed Hausdorf
Senior Vice President / Director of Security
North Fork Bank
275 Broadhollow Road
Melville, New York 11747
Telephone: (631) 844-4163
Fax: (631) 844-4195
ehausdorf@nfb.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. 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. Christopher J. SpothActing Director
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection