Counterfeit cashier's checks drawn on People's Bank, Bridgeport, Connecticut, are reportedly in circulation

People's Bank, Bridgeport, Connecticut, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit items bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 221172186, which is assigned to People's Bank, and are similar to authentic cashier's checks in appearance. The counterfeit items are printed on mottled beige and yellow paper; the top and bottom borders are gray. Authentic cashier's checks are printed on paper with a dark and light gray marbled background; the top and bottom borders are dark gray. Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic check (VOID) are attached for your review.

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

Kim L. Syrop
Manager
Corporate Fraud Investigation/Recovery
People's Bank
850 Main Street
Bridgeport, CT 06604
Telephone: (203) 338-7833
Fax: (203) 338-5099
E-mail: klsyrop@peoples.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.

Sandra L. ThompsonActing Director
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection