Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Lafayette Savings Bank, Lafayette, Indiana, are reportedly in circulation

Lafayette Savings Bank, FSB, Lafayette, Indiana, 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 are reportedly associated with a Canadian lottery scam.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 274971761, which is assigned to Lafayette Savings Bank, FSB, but are dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks. The counterfeit items display "CASHIER'S CHECK" in the top-center portion of the items. Some of the counterfeit items display "LAFAYETTE AMERICAN BANK" in a large font in the top-left corner, along with a mailing address and a toll-free telephone number, which are not associated with the bank. The following statement appears in the middle section of the counterfeit items: "MATCH THE AMOUNT IN WORDS WITH THE AMOUNT IN NUMBERS."

Authentic checks display "CASHIER'S CHECK" in the bottom-left corner. "Lafayette Savings Bank" is printed in a stair-step format centered at the top of the checks, directly adjacent to the bank's logo. The following statement appears below the dollar line on authentic checks: "A DECLARATION OF LOSS WILL BE REQUIRED TO REPLACE THIS INSTRUMENT. VOID AFTER 90 DAYS FROM DATE OF ISSUE."

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:

Kris Lowe
Assistant Vice President and Operations Manager
Lafayette Savings Bank, FSB
101 Main Street
Lafayette, Indiana 47902
Telephone: (765) 429-2862
Fax: (765) 742-1507
E-mail: kllowe@lsbank.com

To report this scam or any other scam based in or mailed from Canada, please contact Phonebusters, which is a joint partnership between the Ontario Provincial Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Phonebusters is interested in receiving copies of scam letters, particularly those involving Canadian mailing addresses or telephone numbers. Records relating to the payment of advance fees should also be forwarded to Phonebusters. This information is used to assist in the strategic targeting of would-be fraudsters. Scam letters should be forwarded to the Phonebusters National Call Center (PNCC) as follows:

Mail: Box 686
North Bay, Ontario, Canada
P1B 8J8Web site: www.phonebusters.comTelephone: +1 (888) 495-8501 (toll-free in Canada and the USA)Fax: +1 (888) 654-9426 (toll-free in Canada and the USA)E-mail: info@phonebusters.comAdvance fee fraud (including Nigerian and lottery letters): wafl@phonebusters.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