Counterfeit official checks drawn on Cape Ann Savings Bank, Gloucester, Massachusetts, are reportedly in circulation

Cape Ann Savings Bank, Gloucester, 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 011000028, which is assigned to State Street Bank and Trust Company, Boston, Massachusetts. Cape Ann Savings Bank issues "Money Order Checks" through State Street Bank and Trust Company. The counterfeit items are dissimilar to authentic checks in the style and fonts used, and are apparently related to a Canadian lottery scam. Authentic checks display the wording "NOT TO EXCEED $300" above the wording "MONEY ORDER CHECK" in the lower-left portion of the check. A copy of a counterfeit item and a copy of an authentic official check (VOID) are attached for your review.

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

Ken Davis
Assistant Vice President-Security Officer
or
Amy Randazza
Assistant Vice President-Security Officer
Cape Ann Savings Bank
109 Main Street
Gloucester, MA 01930
Telephone: (978) 282-5770
E-mail: amyr@casbank.com

Phonebusters-a joint partnership between the Ontario Provincial Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police-is interested in receiving copies of scam letters involving Canadian mailing addresses or telephone numbers. Records relating to the payment of advance fees can also be forwarded to Phonebusters. This intelligence information is used to assist in the strategic targeting of would-be fraudsters. Scam letters should be forwarded to the Phonebusters National Call Center (PNCC) as follows:

Mail: Box 686
North Bay, Ontario, Canada
P1B 8J8Web site: www.phonebusters.comTelephone: +1 (888) 495-8501 (toll-free in Canada and the U.S.A.)Fax: +1 (888) 654-9426 (toll-free in Canada and the U.S.A.)E-mail: info@phonebusters.comAdvance fee fraud (including Nigerian and lottery letters): wafl@phonebusters.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