Counterfeit checks bearing the name Alliance Bank & Trust, Gastonia, North Carolina, are reportedly in circulation

Alliance Bank & Trust, Gastonia, North Carolina, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation. The counterfeit items are reportedly associated with a sweepstakes scam.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 011007092, which is assigned to Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Company, Boston, Massachusetts. The bank issues official checks through Moneygram Payment Systems, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota, payable through Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Company.

Counterfeit items are markedly dissimilar to authentic official checks. Counterfeit items display a logo consisting of an image of Benjamin Franklin in the upper-left corner with the words "FRANKLIN TEMPLETON INVESTMENTS" printed beneath and "TEMPLETON INVESTMENTS CORP, USA-CA-SAN MATEO" printed to the right. The counterfeit items display the following security statement in scroll print beneath the "DOLLAR" line: "This document has a colored background. Copy Shield and a backside authentic watermark, absence of these features will indicate a copy."

Authentic checks have the following statements printed in the lower-left corner: "ISSUED BY: MONEYGRAM PAYMENT SYSTEMS, INC.," and "DRAWEE: BOSTON SAFE DEPOSIT & TRUST CO." The words "OFFICIAL CHECK" are displayed in the upper-left corner with the "REMITTER" printed directly beneath. The bank's name and "A" logo are centered at the top with a hologram included directly to the right. The following security statement appears below the top border on authentic checks: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK PRINTED ON THE BACK. THE FRONT OF THE DOCUMENT HAS A MICRO-PRINT SIGNATURE LINE AND HOLOGRAM. ABSENCE OF THESE FEATURES WILL INDICATE A COPY." Authentic checks display "DRAWER: ALLIANCE BANK AND TRUST" below the dollar amount line in the bottom-right 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:

Bill Sudyk
President and Chief Executive Officer
Alliance Bank & Trust
292 West Main Avenue
Gastonia, North Carolina 28052
Telephone: (704) 869-8840
Fax: (704) 869-8816
E-mail: bill.sudyk@alliancebankandtrust.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