Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Merchants and Farmers Bank, Kosciusko, Mississippi, are reportedly in circulation

Merchants and Farmers Bank, Kosciusko, Mississippi, 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 022000868, which is assigned to Integrated Payment Systems, Inc., Englewood, Colorado. Merchant and Farmers Bank issues official checks through an Integrated Payment Systems, Inc., account held at Citibank, N.A., Buffalo, New York. The counterfeit items also display the wording "CASHIER'S CHECK," which is incorporated into the center of the top border. The bank's name and location are shown in the lower-left corner above the reference to Integrated Payment Systems, Inc. The counterfeit items include two signature lines above the lower-right corner.

Authentic checks display the wording "OFFICIAL CHECK," which is incorporated into the center of the top border. Only one signature line appears on authentic checks, above the lower-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:

Internal Audit Department or Security Department
Merchants and Farmers Bank
P.O. Box 520
Kosciusko, Mississippi 39090
Telephone: (662) 289-5121
Fax: (662) 289-7950 or (662) 290-6786

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. Questions 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