Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name First Peoples Bank, Knoxville, Tennessee, are reportedly in circulation

First Peoples Bank of Tennessee, Jefferson City, Tennessee, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 053000196, which is assigned to Bank of America, N.A., and are markedly dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks. The counterfeit items display the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" in the top center. The bank's name appears between two dark lines in the top-left corner along with a branch address ("7100 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, Tennessee 37919"). The words "PURCHASED BY" are printed in the lower-left corner.

Authentic checks display the routing number 064202828, which is assigned to First Peoples Bank of Tennessee. The bank's name and logo (a Liberty Bell icon) are blue and centered below the top border. An indemnity bond notice appears in the top-right corner. The words "CASHIER'S CHECK" are red and appear in the lower-left corner. The checks have a blue marbled background with red check numbers.

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:

Clyde Byard
Vice President
First Peoples Bank of Tennessee
6187 West Andrew Johnson Highway
Talbott, Tennessee 37877
Telephone: (423) 587-2471
Fax: (423) 587-5312
E-mail: byard@firstpeoplesbank.net

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