Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name MidSouth Bank, Beaumont, Texas, are reportedly in circulation

MidSouth Bank, Beaumont, Texas, 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 are reportedly associated with a lottery scam.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 113123447, which is assigned to MidSouth Bank; however, they are dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks. The counterfeit items are gray in color, have rounded corners, and display a security statement embedded within the top border. In addition, the counterfeit items display the words "Cashier's Check" (with an apostrophe) in the upper-right corner and have one signature line in the lower-right corner.

Authentic checks are green and display security wording printed vertically along the right border. The words "Cashiers Check" (without an apostrophe), "Date," and "Branch" are printed in the upper-right corner. Authentic checks have two signature lines in 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:

Ed Lampman
Vice President
MidSouth Bank
411 McMurray Road, Suite 200
555 North Dowlen Road
Beaumont, Texas 77706
Telephone: (409) 838-4781, extension 204
E-mail: elampman@midsouthbank.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 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
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection