Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Cape Cod Five Cent Savings Bank, Orleans, 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 display the routing number 211371078, which is assigned to The Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank, but are markedly dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks. The counterfeit items display the bank's name and location in the top center, and the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" appear in the lower-left corner. The following security statement is embedded within the top border: "THIS CHECK IS VOID IF MICRO PRINT SIGNATURE LINE IS UNREADABLE UNDER MAGNIFICATION." The following statements are embedded within the bottom border: "THE REVERSE SIDE OF THE DOCUMENT CONTAINS AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK. HOLD AT AN ANGLE TO VIEW."

Authentic checks display the words "TREASURER'S CHECK" and the statement "Negotiate Within Six Months of Date of Issue" in the top-center portion. "Cape Cod," the number "5" and a lighthouse logo appear in the upper-left corner of authentic checks. The bank's name, city and state appear in the lower-left corner. Authentic checks have a patterned background and a watermark in the shape of Cape Cod in the center.

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 Cod 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 http://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
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection