Counterfeit cashier's checks drawn on Jewett City Savings Bank, Jewett City, Connecticut, are reportedly in circulation

Jewett City Savings Bank, Jewett City, Connecticut, contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 211174330, which is a routing number assigned to Jewett City Savings Bank. However, authentic official checks display the routing number 102000979, which is assigned to Integrated Payment System Inc.'s account held at JP Morgan Chase, N.A., Denver, Colorado. Jewitt City Savings Bank issues official checks through Integrated Payment Systems, Inc.

The counterfeit items are dissimilar to authentic items. The counterfeit items have "CASHIER'S CHECK" printed in the top center and "Jewett Savings Bank" printed above the signature line, as well as in the upper-left corner. The check stock color is blue fading to pink. The bank's name and address appear on four lines in the upper-left corner.

Authentic items bear the words "OFFICIAL CHECK" in the upper-right corner. The bank's shield logo, address and year established appear on three lines in the upper-left corner. A watermark, which is a picture of the bank, is located in the center of the check face. Authentic items have a light green background with green and black lettering. The word "REMITTER" is located in the lower-left side.

Copies 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:

J. Kenneth Useted
Vice President
Jewett City Savings Bank
111 Main Street
P.O. Box 335
Jewett City, CT 06351-0335
Telephone: (860) 376-4444
Fax: (860) 376-7148
Email kusted@jcsbank.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/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