Counterfeit official checks bearing the name Bay State Savings Bank, Worcester, Massachusetts, are reportedly in circulation

Bay State Savings Bank, Worcester, Massachusetts, 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 211371023, which is assigned to Bay State Savings Bank. The items are dissimilar to authentic checks and display the words "OFFICIAL CHECK" in the top center.

Authentic checks display the words "Treasurer's Check" in the top center.

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:

Pamela L. LeBlanc
Vice President/Compliance & Security
Bay State Savings Bank
28 Franklin Street
Worcester, Massachusetts 01608
Phone: (508) 890-9000
Fax: (508) 792-5217
Email: pleblanc@baystatesavings.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
Director
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection