Counterfeit cashier checks bearing the name First Citizens Bank and Trust Company, Inc, are reportedly in circulation

First Citizens Bank and Trust Company, Inc., Columbia, South Carolina, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 053201487, which is assigned to First Citizens Bank and Trust Company, Inc. The items also display the following statement embedded within the top border: "THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT IS PRINTED BLUE – THE BACK CONTAINS A SIMULATED WATERMARK." A security padlock is printed blue in the lower-right corner. "Quality Pre Owned Homes" appears below the bank's name and "Member FDIC" appears in the top-left corner.

Authentic checks have the following statements embedded within the top border: "PRINTED WITH A BLUE BACKGROUND ON WHITE PAPER- THE BACK OF THIS CHECK HAS AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK. HOLD AT AN ANGLE TO VIEW."

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:

Kathy M. Houston
Vice President
Loss Prevention and Fraud Investigations
First Citizens Bank and Trust Company, Inc.
P.O. Box 29
Mailcode: 994029
Columbia, South Carolina 29202
Telephone: (803) 733-2760
Fax: (803) 733-2098
E-mail: Kathy.Houston@firstcitizensonline.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