Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Community Banking Company of Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald, Georgia, are reportedly in circulation

Community Banking Company of Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald, Georgia, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation in association with two letters for unclaimed winnings.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 061204913, which is assigned to Community Banking Company of Fitzgerald, but are dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks. The counterfeit items display "CASHIER'S CHECK" inside a box near the top-center portion of the items. Centered on the right side of the items are "DATE" and "AMOUNT" boxes with the applicable date or amount displayed directly beneath the captions. Other than a signature line, no printed lines are displayed on the items.

Authentic cashier's checks have a scroll border. Security wording is displayed across the top border. "CASHIER'S CHECK" is printed within a box that is incorporated into the top border. Ornate designs are displayed to the right and left sides of the box. The checks have preprinted lines for "DATE," "PAY TO THE ORDER OF," "REMITTER" and "DOLLARS."

Copies of a 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:

Matt McCranie
Assistant Loan Officer
Community Banking Company of Fitzgerald
P.O. Box 130
Fitzgerald, Georgia 31750
Telephone: (229) 423-4321
Fax: (229) 423-6656
E-mail: mmccranie@cbcfitzgerald.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. Thompson
Acting Director
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection