Counterfeit official checks bearing the name Westborough Bank, Westborough, Massachusetts, are reportedly in circulation

Westborough Savings Bank, Westborough, Massachusetts (also known as Westborough Bank), has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit official checks bearing the name Westborough Bank are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 211370396, which is assigned to Westborough Savings Bank. The counterfeit items are not similar to authentic checks and are printed on green paper with black print. The words "OFFICIAL CHECK" are printed in the top-center portion of the items, and the FDIC symbol is located in the upper-right corner. A cupola logo appears in the upper-left corner of the counterfeit items, and a statement that the check is drawn on New England Payment Systems, Boston, Massachusetts, appears in the lower-left corner. The following statement is embedded in the top border: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK."

Authentic checks display the bank's star logo, made up of five "W's" in a circle, in the upper-left corner. Authentic checks are printed on blue check stock with dark blue printing. The following statement is embedded in the top border: "WARNING! THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS A VOID FEATURE PANTOGRAPH TO GUARD AGAINST TAMPERING."

Copies of the counterfeit item and an authentic 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:

Vickie Bouvier
Senior VP/Senior Operations Officer
Westborough Savings Bank
100 East Main Street
Westborough, Massachusetts 01581
Phone: (508) 366-4111 extension 3202
Fax: (508) 616-9206
E-mail: vbouvier@westboroughbank.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