Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Westside Community Bank, University Place, Washington, are reportedly in circulation

Westside Community Bank, University Place, Washington, 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 125108311, which is assigned to Westside Community Bank. The items also display the following security statement embedded within the top border: "FOR SECURITY PURPOSES, THE BACK OF THE DOCUMENT CONTAINS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING IN THE BORDER." The bank's main office address (University Place, WA) and one branch address (Tacoma, WA) appear to the right of the bank's name below the top border.

Authentic checks display the following security statement below the printed dollar amount line: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A MICRO-PRINT SIGNATURE LINE, AUTHENTIC WATERMARK AND CHLOROSTAIN PAPER; ABSENCE OF THESE FEATURES WILL INDICATE A COPY." The bank's main office address and telephone number, and the names and telephone numbers of two branch offices (Parkland Branch) and (Puyallup Branch) appear to the right of the bank's name in the top-center portion. Authentic checks also have ornate borders. A security padlock symbol is incorporated in the right border.

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:

Brian H. Rennie
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
E-mail: wcb-brennie@qwest.net

-OR-

Angel Phillips
Assistant Vice President
E-mail: wcb-aphillips@qwest.net
Westside Community Bank
4922 Bridgeport Way West
University Place, Washington 98467
Telephone: (253) 565-9737
Fax: (253) 565-9705

To report this scam or any other scam based in or mailed from Canada, please contact Phonebusters, which is a joint partnership between the Ontario Provincial Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Phonebusters is interested in receiving copies of scam letters, particularly those involving Canadian mailing addresses or telephone numbers. Records relating to the payment of advance fees should also be forwarded to Phonebusters. This information is used to assist in the strategic targeting of would-be fraudsters. Scam letters should be forwarded to the Phonebusters National Call Center (PNCC) as follows:

Mail: Box 686
North Bay, Ontario, Canada
P1B 8J8Web site: www.phonebusters.comTelephone: +1 (888) 495-8501 (toll-free in Canada and the USA)Fax: +1 (888) 654-9426 (toll-free in Canada and the USA)E-mail: info@phonebusters.comAdvance fee fraud (including Nigerian and lottery letters): wafl@phonebusters.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 Affairs