Counterfeit Official checks drawn on Webster Bank, National Association, Waterbury, Connecticut, are reportedly in circulation

Webster Bank, National Association, Waterbury, Connecticut, 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 570010101, which is not associated with the bank. Counterfeit items are similar to authentic checks however, in the upper-right corner, counterfeit items include: "ISSUED BY: TRAVELERS EXPRESS COMPANY, INC."

Authentic checks display routing number 092005411, which is assigned to First Interstate Bank. Webster Bank, National Association, issues authentic checks through a Moneygram Payment Systems, Inc. account held at First Interstate Bank. Authentic checks have ornate borders and the following security statement printed below the top border: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK PRINTED ON THE BACK. THE FRONT OF THIS DOCUMENT HAS A MICRO- PRINT SIGNATURE LINE. ABSENCE OF THESE FEATURES WILL INDICATE A COPY."

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:

Denise M. Walker
Vice President, Financial Investigations Unit
Webster Bank, National Association
P.O. Box 1486
Farmington CT 06034
Telephone: (860) 612-5657
Fax: (860) 612-5664
dwalker@websterbank.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/2007/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