Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Clarke County State Bank, Osceola, Iowa, are reportedly in circulation

Clarke County State Bank, Osceola, Iowa, 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 073921653, which is assigned to Clarke County State Bank; however, they are markedly dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks. The counterfeit items display the following security statements embedded within the top border: "THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT IS PRINTED BLUE - THE BACK CONTAINS A SIMULATED WATERMARK." They also display the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" in the upper-left corner below the bank's logo, name, city, state and a telephone number, which is not associated with the bank. The bank's name is repeated on the right side above two signature lines, each line of which is preceded by the word "PER." The counterfeit items also include the word "REMITTER" above the lower-left corner and a security padlock symbol in the lower-right corner.

Authentic checks display the following security statements embedded within the top border: "FRONT OF DOCUMENT FEATURES COLORED BACKGROUND INSIDE THIS HIGH RESOLUTION BORDER AND A WHITE BAND OUTSIDE OF BORDER. BACK OF DOCUMENT HAS GREY PRINTING ON A WHITE BACKGROUND. 'SECURITY DOCUMENT' IS MICRO-PRINTED IN BOTTOM BORDER AND 'AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE IN THE SIGNATURE LINE." "CASHIER'S CHECK" is printed inside a rectangle centered below the top border. The rectangle has arrows pointing outward on the left and right edges. The bank's "CCSB" logo, name, city, state, zip code and Web site address are printed above the lower-left corner. Centered near the right border is a security padlock symbol printed above the wording: "TWO SIGNATURES REQUIRED IF $50,000 OR OVER."

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:

Sheila M. Boor
Assistant Vice President, Manager of Information Systems
Clarke County State Bank
139 South Main Street
Osceola, Iowa 50213
Telephone: (641) 342-6581, extension 225
Fax: (641) 342-4647
E-mail: sboor@clarkebank.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. 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 Web site 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
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection