Counterfeit teller checks bearing the name Calvert Bank and Trust Company, Prince Frederick, Maryland, are reportedly in circulation

Mercantile Southern Maryland Bank, Leonardtown, Maryland, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit checks bearing the name of Calvert Bank and Trust Company are in circulation. Calvert Bank and Trust Company was previously merged into Mercantile Southern Maryland Bank.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 053101121, which is assigned to Branch Banking and Trust (BB&T). The counterfeit items display the name and address of the former Calvert Bank and Trust Company and a telephone number associated with BB&T in the upper-left corner. "TELLER CHECK" is printed in the top center of the counterfeit items.

Authentic Mercantile Southern Maryland Bank checks display the routing number 055001122. The bank's logo, name, city and state are printed across the top of the check, and "CASHIER'S CHECK" is printed in the lower-left corner.

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

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

Paul Reamy
Security Officer
Mercantile Southern Maryland Bank
P.O. Box 655
Leonardtown, Maryland 20650
Telephone: (301) 737-3742
E-mail: Paul.Reamy@mercantile.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