Counterfeit checks bearing the name Castle Bank, Baltimore, Maryland, are reportedly in circulation

Ireland Bank, Malad City, Idaho, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit checks that include the name Castle Bank and the routing number associated with Ireland Bank are in circulation. The counterfeit items are associated with a Canadian prize scam and are accompanied by a letter that is purportedly from "First Rate Security & Disbursement." The letter notifies the recipient of unclaimed prize money. A Canadian address is printed on the bottom of the letter.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 124100857, which is assigned to Ireland Bank. There is no Castle Bank chartered in the state of Maryland; however, the logo displayed on the counterfeit items is a logo used by Castle Bank, National Association, DeKalb, Illinois. The counterfeit items are tan in color.

Authentic checks issued by Ireland Bank are printed on light green check stock and include "OFFICIAL CHECK" in the top-center portion of the checks. The bank's logo of an interlocking "I" and "B" is displayed in the top-left corner next to the bank's name.

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

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

Regene Jones
Compliance Officer
Ireland Bank
33 Bannock Street
Malad City, Idaho 83252
Telephone: (208) 766-2211
Fax: (208) 766-2361
E-mail: rjones@ireland-bank.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 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