Counterfeit official checks and cashier's checks bearing the name Lafayette Ambassador Bank are reportedly in circulation

Lafayette Ambassador Bank, Easton, Pennsylvania, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit official and counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 031302133, which is assigned to Lafayette Ambassador Bank. However, the counterfeit items are markedly dissimilar to authentic official checks. There are two versions of the counterfeit items. One is referred to as an "OFFICIAL CHECK" while the other is a "CASHIER'S CHECK." The counterfeit items display the security statement "THIS CHECK IS VOID WITHOUT A BLUE & GREEN BACKGROUND AND AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK ON THE BACK-HOLD AT AN ANGLE TO VIEW" embedded within a darkened top border.

Lafayette Ambassador Bank does not issue cashier's checks; however, it does issue official checks. Authentic official checks have a multi-colored background and ornate borders. The security feature statement "THIS CHECK IS VOID WITHOUT A MULTICOLORED BACKGROUND, MICROPRINT LINES IN THE BORDER, A TRUE WATERMARK, AND VISIBLE PLUS INVISIBLE FLUORESCENT FIBERS" appears below the top border. The bank's waving-flag logo precedes the bank's name in a darkened rectangle with rounded corners in the top center.

Copies of two counterfeit items 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:

John P. Illes, IV
Regional Security Officer
Fulton Financial Corporation
3975 Township Line Road
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18020
Telephone: (610) 758-7351
Fax: (610) 758-7338
E-mail: Jilles@fult.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