Counterfeit official checks bearing the name Lenox National Bank, Lenox, Massachusetts, are reportedly in circulation

The Lenox National Bank, Lenox, Massachusetts, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit official checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation. The counterfeit items are reportedly associated with a secret shopper scam.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 011805388, which is assigned to The Lenox National Bank, but are markedly dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks. The counterfeit items have ornate blue borders on three sides. They also display the words "OFFICIAL CHECK" inside a rectangle with rounded corners centered within the top border. The following security statement appears on each side of the rectangle: "HOLD THIS DOCUMENT UP TO THE LIGHT TO VIEW TRUE WATERMARK." "LENOX NATIONAL BANK, 7 Main Street, Lenox, MA 01240-1532" appears in the lower-left corner.

The Lenox National Bank issues cashier's checks, rather than official checks. Authentic checks display the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" inside a green rectangle in the lower-left corner below an indemnity bond statement. The bank's name, city and state are printed inside a rectangle in the top center. "MEMBER FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION" appears directly below the rectangle. An image of the bank's historical office building appears as a watermark in the center. Authentic checks are green in color; the center is gray.

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:

Joseph E. Leskovitz
Executive Vice President
The Lenox National Bank
7 Main Street
Lenox, Massachusetts 01240
Telephone: (413) 637-0017
Fax: (413) 637-0844
E-mail: jleskovitz@lenoxnationalbank.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