Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name First Morris Bank and Trust, Morristown, New Jersey, are reportedly in circulation

First Morris Bank and Trust, Morristown, New Jersey, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit checks bearing the bank 's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 021205499, which is assigned to First Morris Bank and Trust. The counterfeit items also display the bank's name in the top-left corner adjacent to a bird logo and "CASHIER'S CHECK" in the top-center portion. On the left side of the items, on three separate lines, are the phrases "Purchased By," "The Sum Of" and "To The Order Of," with a blank space following each phrase. Printed in the bottom-left portion of the items are the bank's name, location and a toll-free telephone number, which is not associated with the bank.

Authentic checks display "TREASURER'S CHECK" in the lower-left portion of the checks. Authentic checks have printed lines below "REMITTER" and directly following "DATE" and "PAY TO THE ORDER OF." The bank's name and location are included in the top-center portion of the checks.

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic treasurer's check (VOID) are attached for your review.

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

Kathleen Owsiany
Executive Vice President
First Morris Bank and Trust
166 Ridgedale Avenue
Morristown, New Jersey 07960
Telephone: (973) 267-0900
Fax: (973) 267-3397
E-mail: Kathleen.owsiany@firstmorris.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