Counterfeit official checks bearing the name Pioneer Bank, Roswell, New Mexico, are reportedly in circulation

Pioneer Bank, Roswell, New Mexico, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit official checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display an unassigned routing number 102000979. The bank issues cashier's checks, which display the routing number 312270463. The counterfeit items have been linked to a "Work from Home" scam.

The counterfeit items are dissimilar to authentic checks in style and format. The counterfeit items display the wording "OFFICIAL CHECK" in the top-center portion of the item. In the top-left corner is a shield logo next to the bank's name, address and a toll-free telephone number, which is not associated with the bank. The counterfeit items contain the following statements on two lines in the upper-right corner: "Issued by Integrated Payment Systems, Inc., Englewood, Colorado" and "JPMORGAN Chase Bank, N.A., Denver, Colorado."

Authentic checks include the wording "CASHIER'S CHECK" in the top-center portion of the check and display a windmill logo in the top-left corner. The bank's name and location are displayed to the right of the logo. Authentic checks include two signature lines.

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:

Todd Huffaker
Operations Manager
Pioneer Bank
306 N. Pennsylvania Avenue
Roswell, New Mexico 88201
Telephone: (505) 624-5200
Fax: (505) 624-5260
E-mail: thuffaker@pioneerbnk.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