Wells River Savings Bank, Wells River, Vermont, has reported that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation

Wells River Savings Bank, Wells River, Vermont, 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 211674788, which is assigned to Wells River Savings Bank. The counterfeit items also display the bank's name, the wording "CASHIER'S CHECK," date cell, and amount cell inside of rectangular-shaped boxes throughout the item. The wording "CASHIER'S CHECK" is displayed near the top-center portion of the item. However, authentic checks are referred to as "TREASURER'S CHECKS" and the wording is displayed in the lower-left corner of the checks.

Authentic treasurer's checks display the bank's name in the top-center portion of the check, with the city, state and zip code beneath. Authentic checks do not display any rectangular-shaped boxes.

A copy of a counterfeit item and a copy of an authentic cashier's check (VOID) are attached for your review.

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

Mary Jo Locke
Security Officer
Wells River Loan Office
47 Main Street North
Wells River, Vermont 05081
Telephone: (802) 757-3244, extension 240
Fax: (802) 757-3264
E-mail: mjlocke@wrsb.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