Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Community National Bank of Sarasota County, Venice, Florida, are reportedly in circulation

Community National Bank of Sarasota County, Venice, Florida, has contacted the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the bank's name are in circulation. The items are reportedly originating in Ghana, Africa, and are associated with an Internet purchase scam.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 063112993, which is assigned to Community National Bank of Sarasota County, and are similar to authentic cashier's checks. However, the counterfeit items can be identified by the following:

• The items are cream-colored;
• The logo appears faded;
• The abbreviation "NO." does not precede the check number;
• The reverse side of the item contains endorsement instructions, lines for signatures, and "Federal Reserve Board of Governor Reg. CC."

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

Silverio Algarin
Compliance Officer
Community National Bank of Sarasota County
201 Center Road
Venice, Florida 34285
Phone: (941) 488-6660
Fax: (941) 484-8153
E-mail: frank.algarin@cnbsara.com

Additional information concerning this matter may be brought to the OCC's attention at:

Mail: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
Special Supervision Division, MS 6-4
250 E Street, SW
Washington, DC 20219 Fax: (202) 874-5214 E-mail: occalertresponses@occ.treas.gov Internet: http://www.occ.treas.gov

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