Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name The Citizens Bank of Cochran, Cochran, Georgia, are reportedly in circulation

The Citizens Bank of Cochran, Cochran, Georgia, 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 061211346, which is assigned to The Citizens Bank of Cochran, but are dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks. The counterfeit items have scalloped ornate borders along the top and sides. The words "CASHIER'S CHECK" are displayed inside a rectangle centered within the top border. An incorrect version of the bank's logo appears inside a darkened circle above the bank name and location in the top-left corner.

Authentic checks are light gray and have dark straight-edged borders along all four sides. The words "CASHIER'S CHECK" are displayed in the lower-left corner. The bank's logo (without a darkened circle), name and location appear in the top-left corner. The statement "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A MICRO-PRINT SIGNATURE LINE, ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK, AND A SECURITY SCREEN; ABSENCE OF THESE FEATURES WILL INDICATE A COPY" appears below the dollar amount line. A padlock symbol with security feature statement appears to the right of the dollar amount line, and the statement "VOID AFTER 180 DAYS" is printed above the signature line.

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:

Mary Ann Young
Senior Vice President
The Citizens Bank of Cochran
Post Office Box 427
124 East Dykes Street
Cochran, Georgia 31014
Telephone: (478) 934-6277
Fax: (478) 934-3962
E-mail: myoung@citizensbankcochran.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/2008/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. ThompsonDirector
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection