Counterfeit treasurer's account checks bearing the name Beneficial Savings Bank, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, are reportedly in circulation

Beneficial Mutual Savings Bank (also known as Beneficial Savings Bank), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit treasurer's account checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 236075689, which is assigned to Beneficial Savings Bank. There are two versions of counterfeit items, which are both similar to authentic checks. One version has no borders. The other version has borders with security feature descriptions embedded in the top border. Most counterfeit items reported have been printed on green paper stock. The appearance of counterfeit items may be modified and additional variations are possible.

Authentic checks are printed on blue paper stock and have borders along the sides and top. "BENEFICIAL SAVINGS BANK" is printed repeatedly in microprint within the borders, and a padlock symbol and security descriptions appear on the lower-right side of authentic checks.

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic check (VOID) are attached for your review.

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

Kathie R. McLees, Assistant Treasurer
& Assistant Security Manager
Beneficial Savings Bank
Security/Fraud Department
530 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106
Phone: (215) 864-3580
Fax: (215) 864-6121
E-mail: kmclees@beneficialsavingsbank.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