Counterfeit official checks drawn on First National Bank in Alamogordo, Alamogordo, New Mexico, are reportedly in circulation

First National Bank in Alamogordo, Alamogordo, New Mexico, has 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 112202123, which is assigned to First National Bank in Alamogordo, Alamogordo, New Mexico. The counterfeit items are similar to authentic items. However, authentic checks are printed on paper with a background design, and counterfeit items are printed on paper with graduated color. Authentic checks also have a description directly below the dollar amount line, which the counterfeit items do not. The counterfeit items describe the check background and watermark across the top of the check; authentic checks have no such wording there. 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:

Kelly Nichols
Operations Officer
First National Bank in Alamogordo
414 Tenth Street
Alamogordo, New Mexico 88310
Telephone: (505)443-5272
Fax: (505) 437-1631
Kelly.nichols@fnbalamo.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 website 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