Counterfeit official checks bearing the name Emprise Bank, Wichita, Kansas, are reportedly in circulation

Emprise Bank, Wichita, Kansas, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit official checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation. The counterfeit items are reportedly associated with a sweepstakes lottery scam and are included with correspondence containing the letterhead of "NLGC, Northwind Lotto Gaming Corporation, 15 Lindberg Bay, Suite 4, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00802."

The counterfeit items display the routing number 096016765, which is assigned to the U.S. Bank, National Association, Saint Paul, Minnesota. Emprise Bank issues official checks through Moneygram Payment Systems, Inc., which are payable through U.S. Bank National Association. The counterfeit items display the following security statement embedded within a darkened top border: "FOR SECURITY PURPOSES, THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING IN THE BORDER." The statements "SECURITY FEATURES INCLUDED. DETAILS ON BACK" appear between two security padlock icons in the center of the bottom border. The bank name is misspelled as "EMPIRE BANK" above the signature line. The items display the word "VOID" printed in the background when copied.

Authentic official checks contain the following security statements below the top border: "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." The bank's telephone number ("316-383-4400") is displayed below the bank's address near the top center.

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:

Jeremy Couch
Security Officer
Emprise Bank
P.O. Box 2970
Wichita, Kansas 67201
Telephone: (316) 383-4439
Fax: (316) 383-4341
E-mail: jcouch@emprisebank.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