Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Community Trust Bank are reportedly in circulation

Community Trust Bank, Choudrant, Louisiana, 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 111102758, which is assigned to Community Trust Bank, but are dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks. On the counterfeit items, the words "Cashier's Check" are printed inside a rectangle in the top center. "MEMBER FIDC" (with FDIC misspelled as "FIDC") and a telephone number, which is not associated with the bank, are printed below the bank's logo and name in the lower-left corner. The statement "NOT VOID AFTER 180 DAYS" (rather than "NOT VALID AFTER 180 DAYS") is displayed above the signature line. The counterfeit items are reportedly reddish orange with scalloped borders on the top and sides.

Authentic checks display the words "Cashier's Check" in the lower-left corner. Printed below the top border is the statement "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A MICRO-PRINT SIGNATURE LINE, WATERMARK AND A THERMOCHROMIC ICON ABSENCE OF THESE FEATURES WILL INDICATE A COPY." The bank's logo, name and "Member FDIC" are printed in the top-center area. A padlock icon and a security statement appear to the right of the "Dollars" line, and "NOT VALID AFTER 180 DAYS" is printed above the signature line. Authentic checks are yellow and have ornate borders on all four sides.

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:

Randy S. Bullock, CFSSP
Security Officer
Community Trust Bank
301 West Alabama Avenue
Ruston, Louisiana 71270
Telephone: (318) 254-2001
Fax: (318) 251-9444
E-mail: Rbullock@ctbonline.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. Thompson
Director
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection