Counterfeit official checks drawn on PFF Bank & Trust, Pomona, California, are reportedly in circulation

PFF Bank & Trust, Pomona, California, 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 122037171, which is assigned to Integrated Payment Systems, Englewood, Colorado, with the checks issued through Wells Fargo Bank Ltd., Los Angeles, California. PFF Bank & Trust issues official checks via Integrated Payment Systems. The counterfeit items are very similar to authentic checks in style, font and layout. Authentic checks display a pad lock on the lower-right side and disclose the relationship with Integrated Payment Systems in the lower-left corner of the check. The counterfeit items display a "1-800" telephone number on either the front or the back of the check; this telephone number is not associated with the bank. A copy of a counterfeit item and an authentic official check (VOID) are attached for your review.

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

Vincent Galasso
Assistant Vice President – Senior Security Investigator
or
Maria Montenegro – Security Investigator
PFF Bank & Trust
399 Garey Ave
Pomona, California 91767
Telephone: (909) 623-6517
Fax: (909) 629-1832
Vincent.galasso@pffb.com
Maria.montenegro@pffb.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