Counterfeit official checks bearing the name Nara Bank, Los Angeles, California, are reportedly in circulation

Nara Bank, Los Angeles, California, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit official checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 122041727, which is assigned to Nara Bank. The counterfeit items are similar to authentic checks, but have ornate borders on all sides.

Authentic checks display the following statement embedded within the top border: "THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINT." In addition, the following statement is embedded within the bottom border: "THE BACK OF THIS CHECK MUST CONTAIN AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK OR IS VOID."

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

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

Jasna Penich
Senior Vice President and Chief Risk Officer
Nara Bank
3701 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 301
Los Angeles, California 90010
Telephone: (213) 235-3009
Fax: (213) 235-3025
E-mail: JPenich@NaraBank.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. Thompson
Acting Director
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection