Counterfeit official checks bearing the name citizens Union Bank are reportedly in circulation

Citizens Union Bank of Shelbyville, Shelbyville, Kentucky, 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 display the routing number 011007092, which is assigned to Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Company, Boston, Massachusetts. The bank issues official checks through Moneygram Payment Systems, Inc., Minneapolis Minnesota, payable through Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Company.

The counterfeit items are markedly dissimilar to authentic official checks. The counterfeit items display the following security statement embedded within the top border: "THIS CHECK IS VOID WITHOUT A RED & BLUE BORDER AND BACKGROUND PLUS A KNIGHT & FINGERPRINT WATERMARK ON THE BACK - HOLD AT AN ANGLE TO VIEW." The following security statements appear along the bottom border: "ABSENCE OF PINK U.S. PATENT NUMBERS UNDER SIGNATURE INDICATES CHECK IS FRAUDULENT. PATENT NUMBERS ARE PRINTED WITH HEAT SENSITIVE INK & WILL DISAPPEAR WHEN BLOWING OR RUBBING." The statement "SIGNATURE AREA CONTAINS A KNIGHT & FINGERPRINT CHECK WORDING" appears beneath the signature line in the lower-right corner. The counterfeit items are blue and pink and have blue borders with rounded corners.

Authentic checks display a metallic hologram in the top-center area. The following security statements appear 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 AND HOLOGRAM. ABSENCE OF THESE FEATURES WILL INDICATE A COPY." A picture of a cartoon character bear is to the right of the bank's name in the top-left corner. The checks are green and have green borders with square corners.

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:

Toni Druin
Assistant Vice President and Internet Protocol Manager
Citizens Union Bank of Shelbyville
1854 Midland Trail
Shelbyville, Kentucky 40065
Telephone: (502) 647-7451
Fax: (502) 647-5147
E-mail: tmd@cubbank.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