Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name HFS Federal Credit Union, Hilo, Hawaii, are reportedly in circulation

HFS Federal Credit Union, Hilo, Hawaii, 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 apparently associated with letters from Lotto Net Sweepstakes. The lottery letter displays a Saskatchewan (SK), Canada, address.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 321378660, which is assigned to HFS Federal Credit Union. The items also display the following security statement across the top of the item: "The face of this document has a colored background on white paper and original security screen on back with Padlock Security Icon."

Authentic checks display the institution's telephone number (808-961-2666) below the institution's name, street address, city, state and zip code in the top-center portion of the check.

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:

Donna Stillman
Vice President of Internal Auditing and Compliance
HFS Federal Credit Union
632 Kinoole Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720-3894
Telephone: (808) 930-1406
Fax: (808) 935-2091
E-mail: hfsfcu@aloha.net

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
Director
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection