Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Citizens-Union Savings Bank, Fall River, Massachusetts, are reportedly in circulation

Citizens-Union Savings Bank, Fall River, Massachusetts, 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 bear the routing number 211372420, which is assigned to Citizens-Union Savings Bank, but are dissimilar to authentic checks. The counterfeit items display "Cashier's Check" in the upper-left corner, and a telephone number, not associated with the bank, is printed below the bank's name, city, and state in the top center. Embedded in the top border is the statement "THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND ON WHITE PAPER." Padlock symbols appear in the top-right corner and in the right border. A remitter line is printed in the lower-left corner. "PER:," is printed near the signature area in the lower-right corner. Embedded in the lower border is the statement "THE BACK OF THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK – HOLD AT AN ANGLE TO VIEW."

Authentic checks display "FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS 02721" below the bank's name in the upper-left corner. Authentic checks are blue, do not bear the words "cashier's check," and display one authorized signature line in the lower-right corner.

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic official check (VOID) are attached for your review. Be aware that the appearance of counterfeit items can be modified and that additional variations may be presented.

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

Louis M. Steiblin, CFSSP
Assistant Vice President & Security Officer
Citizens Union Savings Bank
4 South Main Street
Fall River, Massachusetts 02722
Phone: (508) 675-4487
E-mail: louiss@citizensunionbank.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