Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Bank of Walterboro, Walterboro, South Carolina, are reportedly in circulation

Bank of Walterboro, Walterboro, South Carolina, 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 051900353, which is assigned to Branch Banking and Trust (BB&T), Charleston, West Virginia. Bank of Walterboro issues cashier's checks through a BB&T account. The counterfeit items are similar to authentic cashier's checks; however, the following security feature statement is embedded within a darkened top border of the counterfeit items: "FOR SECURITY PURPOSES, THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING IN THE BORDER." The items are tan and have a "VOID" background when copied.

Authentic cashier's checks display the following security statements below the top border and to the left of the bank's logo and name: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK PRINTED ON THE BACK. THE FRONT OF THE DOCUMENT HAS A MICRO-PRINT SIGNATURE LINE. ABSENCE OF THESE FEATURES WILL INDICATE A COPY." Authentic checks are blue.

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic cashier's 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:

Gwen Bunton
Vice President and Cashier
Bank of Walterboro
P.O. Box 1707
Walterboro, South Carolina 29488
Telephone: (843) 549-2265
Fax: (843) 549-5476
E-mail: gbunton@bankofwalterboro.com

Alternate Contacts:

Melissa T. Smyly
Assistant Operations Officer
Bank of Walterboro
P.O. Box 1707
Walterboro, South Carolina 29488
Telephone: (843) 549-2265
Fax: (843) 549-5476
e-mail: msmyly@bankofwalterboro.com

Joy Koth
Customer Service Representative
Bank of Walterboro
P.O. Box 1707
Walterboro, South Carolina 29488
Telephone: (843) 549-2265
Fax: (843) 549-5476
e-mail: jkoth@bankofwalterboro.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