Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank, Harwich Port, Massachusetts, are reportedly in circulation

The Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank, Harwich Port, Massachusetts, 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 associated with a mystery shopping scam.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 211371078, which is assigned to The Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank, but are dissimilar to authentic treasurer's checks. The counterfeit items display "CASHIER'S CHECK" in the top-left corner. The bank's name, address, and a telephone number, which is not associated with the bank, are displayed in the top-center portion of the item.

Authentic checks display the bank's logo in the top-left corner and a watermark across the middle portion of the check. The bank's name and location are displayed in the bottom-left corner.

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:

Diane K. Rowlings
Security Officer
The Cape Code Five Cents Savings Bank
19 West Road – P.O. Box 10
Orleans, Massachusetts
02653 Telephone: (508) 247-2128
Fax: (508) 247-5595
E-mail: drowlings@capecodfive.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 website 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