Counterfeit checks bearing the name First Community Bank, Lexington, South Carolina, are reportedly in circulation

irst Community Bank, National Association, Lexington, South Carolina, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation. The counterfeit items are reportedly associated with a mystery shopper scam originating in Canada.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 061119558, which is assigned to Atlantic Southern Bank, Macon, Georgia, and are markedly dissimilar to authentic official checks. The counterfeit items display a security feature statement within the top and bottom borders. The bank's logo, name, city, state and a telephone number ("1-888-333-4883"), which is not associated with the bank, appear near the upper-left corner. A padlock icon appears within the right border. Two signature lines are displayed in the lower-right corner. The word "Remitter" appears near the lower-left corner. The counterfeit items are blue in color.

Authentic official checks display the routing number 053202208, which is assigned to First Community Bank, National Association. The words "OFFICIAL CHECK" appear in the top center. The numerical dollar amount is printed inside a box near the upper-right corner. Authentic checks are green in color and have leaf-designed borders. There is one signature line in the lower-right corner and an undesignated line adjacent in the lower-left 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:

Debbie Estes
Assistant Vice-President
First Community Bank, National Association
P.O. Box 64
Lexington, South Carolina 29071
Telephone: (803) 951-0534
Fax: (803) 951-1632
E-mail: destes@firstcommunitysc.com

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 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