Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Community State Bank of Orbisonia, Orbisonia, Pennsylvania, are reportedly in circulation

Community State Bank of Orbisonia, Orbisonia, Pennsylvania, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation. The items are reportedly associated with letters from UK Financial Solutions, Victoria, British Columbia, which announce the recipient's winning of the "Disney world [sic] Sweepstakes."

The counterfeit items display the routing number 031317788, which is assigned to Community State Bank of Orbisonia, but are dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks. The counterfeit items are blue with green borders and display the following security feature statement in the top border: "THIS CHECK IS VOID WITHOUT A BLUE & GREEN BORDER AND BACKGROUND PLUS A KNIGHT AND FINGERPRINT WATERMARK ON THE BACK-HOLD AT ANGLE TO VIEW." The security statement "SIGNATURE AREA CONTAINS A KNIGHT & FINGERPRINT CHECK WORDING" is displayed below the signature area along the bottom border in the lower-right corner.

Authentic cashier's checks display the wording "ORIGINAL DOCUMENT" embedded within a foil guard and repeated across the top. The bank's logo (an eagle on top of the letters "CSB") is shown as a watermark in the center. The security statement "This document has a colored background, Foiled Guard and a backside watermark; absence of these features will indicate a copy" is printed in italics beneath the written dollar amount line. A security padlock icon and statement appear to the right of the written dollar amount line. The bank's telephone number ("814-447-5552") appears below the bank's name and address in the top-center area.

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:

Karl M. Barry
Operations Division Manager
Community State Bank of Orbisonia
Elliott Street
Orbisonia, Pennsylvania 17243
Telephone: (814) 447-5508, extension 237
Fax: (814) 447-3710
E-mail: kmbarry@csborbisonia.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