Counterfeit official checks drawn on the KeyBank National Association, Cleveland, Ohio, are reportedly in circulation

KeyBank National Association, Cleveland, Ohio, contacted the Office of the Comptroller of Currency (OCC) to report that counterfeit official checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 122037171. In the top-left portion of the checks is the bank's name followed by an incorrect address (23250 Pacific Hwy S, Kent WA 98032) and an incorrect telephone number (1-866-909-9189). The term "OFFICIAL CHECK" is displayed in the top-center portion of the items. The counterfeit checks also contain the following statement embedded in the top border: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK."

Authentic official checks display the term "OFFICIAL CHECK" in white block letters inside a gray box in the top-center portion of the check. A black key is located in the top-left portion of the check and the following statement is displayed below the top border: "THE BACK OF THIS DOCUMENT HAS AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK PRINTED IN A SPECIAL WHITE INK. HOLD THE DOCUMENT AT A SMALL ANGLE TO SEE THIS SECURITY FEATURE." A dark blue strip below the routing number line states: "THE VARIABLE TONE BACKGROUND AREA OF THIS DOCUMENT CHANGES COLOR GRADUALLY AND SMOOTHLY FROM DARKER TONES AT BOTH TOP AND BOTTOM TO THE LIGHTEST TONE IN THE MIDDLE." Authentic official checks feature blue lined cubes that fade in color from both the top and the bottom, with the lightest shading in the center portion of the check.

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

Corporate Security Division
KeyBank National Association
127 Public Square
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Telephone: (800) 433-0124

Additional information about this matter that you believe should be brought to the OCC's attention may be forwarded to:

Mail: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
Enforcement & Compliance Division, MS 8-10
250 E. Street, SW
Washington, DC 20219Fax: (202) 874-5301E-mail: occalertresponses@occ.treas.govInternet: http://www.occ.treas.gov

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/2006/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