Counterfeit official checks drawn on Unizan Bank, Canton, Ohio, are reportedly in circulation

The Huntington National Bank, Columbus, Ohio, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit checks bearing the name "Unizan Bank, Canton, Ohio" are in circulation. Unizan Financial Services Group, National Association, recently merged with The Huntington National Bank.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 022000868, which is assigned to an account that Integrated Payments Systems, Inc., Englewood, Colorado, has at Citibank, National Association, Buffalo, NY. Unizan Bank issues official checks through Integrated Payment Systems, Inc.

The counterfeit items are similar to authentic official checks. Embedded in the top border of the counterfeit items is the wording: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING THE REVERSE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK." The counterfeit items are tan with a dark brown border.

Authentic official checks display the wording" "HOLD DOCUMENT TO THE LIGHT TO VIEW TRUE WATERMARK" along the top border on both sides of "OFFICIAL CHECK." Authentic checks are light blue with ornate dark blue borders on the top and sides, and the checks display a padlock symbol on the right side above the dollars line.

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:

Steve Bullett
Vice President & Corporate Security Officer
Unizan Bank, National Association
66 South Third Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 463-6811
Fax: (614) 462-2860
E-mail: sbullett@unizan.com

or

Karen Mathes,
Security Officer
Unizan Bank, National Association
624 Market Avenue North
Canton, OH 44702
Phone: (330) 438-4871
Fax: (330) 438-4850
E-mail: Karen.Mathes@huntington.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