Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name 1st Constitution Bank, Cranbury, New Jersey, are reportedly in circulation

1st Constitution Bank, Cranbury, New Jersey, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation. The counterfeit items are associated with an apparent lottery scam in which a letter is sent claiming to be from Goodrich Disbursements, Bolton, Ontario, Canada. Recipients are instructed to contact a sweepstakes agent via telephone for processing of the final payment.

The counterfeit items include the routing number 211170295, which is not assigned to 1st Constitution Bank. Counterfeit items display the bank's logo consisting of a large "1st" directly to the left of the words "Constitution Bank" in the top-left corner of the item. Below the logo are the words "CASHIER'S CHECK." The bank's name (with the 1st spelled out as "First"), city and state and a toll-free telephone number not associated with the bank are printed in the top-center portion of the counterfeit items.

Authentic checks display the words "TREASURER'S CHECK" in the bottom-left portion of the check. Authentic checks include the bank's name, address, city, state and zip code in the top-center portion. Authentic checks display the following security statement below the top border: "WHEN HELD TO LIGHT, IF CIRCULAR WATERMARKS ARE NOT PRESENT, DO NOT CASH. SEE BACK FOR ADDITIONAL SECURITY FEATURES." In addition, a notice regarding the purchase of a surety bond is in the top-left corner. A copy of a counterfeit item and 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:

Charles Caruso
Vice President and Compliance Officer
1st Constitution Bank
2650 Route 130
Cranbury, New Jersey 08512
Telephone: (609) 655-4500
Fax: (609) 655-5653
Email: charlesc@1stconstitution.com

To report this scam or any other scam based in or mailed from Canada, please contact Phonebusters, which is a joint partnership between the Ontario Provincial Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Phonebusters is interested in receiving copies of scam letters, particularly those involving Canadian mailing addresses or telephone numbers. Records relating to the payment of advance fees should also be forwarded to Phonebusters. This 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 USA)Fax: +1 (888) 654-9426 (toll-free in Canada and the USA)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 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