Counterfeit treasurer's checks bearing the name Westfield Bank, Westfield, Massachusetts, are reportedly in circulation

Westfield Bank, Westfield, Massachusetts, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit treasurer's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation. The counterfeit items are associated with a lottery scam and are included with correspondence from "Royal Award Solutions" or "Global Sweepstakes."

The counterfeit items display the routing number 211871604, which is assigned to Westfield Bank. The items are similar to authentic checks; however, the counterfeit items display a security statement embedded in the top border.

Authentic checks display a rectangular box for the numerical dollar amount and do not have a security statement embedded in the top border.

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:

William M. Berz
Assistant Vice President
Security and Fraud Investigations
Westfield Bank
141 Elm Street
Westfield, Massachusetts 01085
Telephone: (413) 572-4241
Fax: (413) 568-2970
E-mail: wberz@westfieldbank.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