Counterfeit official checks bearing the name Fifth Third Bank, Cincinnati, Ohio (Northern Michigan), are reportedly in circulation

Fifth Third Bank, Cincinnati, Ohio, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit checks bearing the bank's name followed by Northern Michigan are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 042101190, which is assigned to Fifth Third Bank, Cincinnati, Ohio, and are very similar to authentic checks. However, the counterfeit items are trimmed in pastel blue, and are printed on very light-blue check stock. Authentic checks are trimmed in dark blue, and are printed on blue check stock. A copy of the 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:

Fifth Third Protection Department
Fifth Third Bank
5001 Kingsley Dr
Cincinnati, Ohio 45263
Telephone: (800) 927-0395

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