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

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

Two groups of counterfeit items display the proper routing number 102003918 and are reportedly in circulation. The first group of counterfeit checks is accompanied by a letter from "Bono Sweepstakes Lottery," which contains instructions to call 1-905-265-8952 to claim a prize. The second group of checks is accompanied by a letter from "International Trust Company" with the same telephone number, 1-905-265-8952.

The counterfeit items are very similar to authentic official checks. A 1-800 telephone number is displayed on the reverse side of the check and is not associated with KeyBank or Integrated Payment Systems.

Authentic official checks are blue with a blue scroll border printed on both sides and the top of the instrument. The body of the checks contains light blue lined cubes. The following statement appears under the memo line: "Issued by Integrated Payment Systems, Inc., Englewood, Colorado," and is followed by "KeyBank National Association, N.A., Denver, Colorado." The correct verification number of 1-800-223-7520 appears on the reverse side of the check.

To verify the authenticity of an official check, please use the following contact information:

Corporate Security Division
KeyBank National Association
127 Public Square
Cleveland, Ohio 44144
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 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