Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name First Farm Bank, Greeley, Colorado, are reportedly in circulation

First FarmBank, Greeley, Colorado, 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 107007210, which is assigned to First FarmBank. The items are markedly dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks and display the bank's name with spacing between "FARM" and "BANK." The counterfeit items have security feature statements embedded in the borders and a security padlock icon embedded in the right border. The words "CASHIER'S CHECK" appear in the top center. The bank's logo and name (repeated twice), city, state and a toll-free telephone number ("1-888-658-8546"), which is not associated with the bank, are displayed in the top-left corner. The bank's name is repeated as "DRAWER" in the top-right corner and after the word "for" below the written dollar amount line. Two signature lines preceded by the word "PER" appear on the right side. "Signing Officer" is printed below each signature line. The word "REMITTER" is also displayed in the lower-right corner. The counterfeit items are brown and have a "VOID" background when copied.

Authentic checks display the bank's logo, name ("FIRST FARMBANK"), street address, city, state and zip code in the top center. The words "CASHIER'S CHECK" and an indemnity bond statement are printed near the lower-left corner. The words "AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE" appear above one signature line in the lower-right corner. The word "REMITTER" is displayed above "PAY TO THE ORDER OF" on the left side. Authentic checks are beige.

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:

Rich Thurley
Chief Financial Officer
First FarmBank
127 22nd Street
Greeley, Colorado 80631
Telephone: (970) 346-7907
Fax: (970) 304-0456
E-mail: rthurley@firstfarmbank.com

Alternate Contact:

Julie Ingram
Financial Service Specialist
First FarmBank
127 22nd Street
Greeley, Colorado 80631
Telephone: (970) 346-7908
Fax: (970) 304-0456
E-mail: jingram@firstfarmbank.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