Counterfeit cashier's checks drawn on Reading Co-operative Bank, Reading, Massachusetts, are reportedly in circulation

Reading Co-operative Bank, Reading, Massachusetts, 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 211372404, which is assigned to Reading Co-operative Bank, but are dissimilar to authentic official checks. The counterfeit items display the wording "Cashier's Check" in the top-center portion of the item and the bank's name and address in the top-left portion.

Authentic checks display "OFFICIAL BANK CHECK" in the bottom-left corner of the check. The bank's name, address and logo, consisting of a village, are displayed in the top-center portion of authentic checks.

A copy of a counterfeit item and a copy of an authentic official bank check (VOID) are attached for your review.

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

Keith Carl
Vice President
Reading Co-operative Bank
180 Haven Street
Reading, Massachusetts 01867
Telephone: (781) 942-5000
Fax: (781) 944-1401
E-mail: kcarl@readingcoop.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/2006/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

Sandra L. ThompsonActing Director
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection