Counterfeit cashier's checks drawn on 1st Constitution Bank, Cranbury, New Jersey, are reportedly in circulation

1st Constitution Bank, Cranbury, New Jersey, 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 021207154, which is assigned to 1st Constitution Bank. The counterfeit items are referred to as "Cashier's Checks"; authentic checks are referred to as "Treasurer's Checks."

The counterfeit items are dissimilar to authentic checks in layout. The counterfeit items display a logo in the upper-left corner, and an address and a telephone number (which is not associated with the bank) in the bottom-left corner. No security or surety bond wording is displayed on the item's face.

Authentic checks display the logo in the top center of the check, with the bank's address directly beneath. The checks display security wording across the top of the check and surety bond wording in the upper-left corner.

A copy of a counterfeit item and an authentic treasurer's check (VOID) are attached for your review.

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

Charles Caruso
Vice President and Compliance Officer
1st Constitution Bank
2650 Route 130
Cranbury, New Jersey 08512
Telephone: (609) 655-4500
Fax: (609) 655-5653
charlesc@1stconstitution.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