Counterfeit checks bearing the name MCT Federal Credit Union, Rockville, Maryland, are reportedly in circulation

Montgomery County Teacher's Federal Credit Union (MCT Federal Credit Union), Rockville, Maryland, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation. The counterfeit items are reportedly associated with a European lottery scam.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 255077888, which is assigned to Montgomery County Teacher's Federal Credit Union, but are markedly dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks. The counterfeit items are tan and have ornate design borders with brown squares in each corner. The statement "THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND ON WHITE PAPER" is embedded in the top border and the statement "THE BACK OF THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK-HOLD AT AN ANGLE TO VIEW" is embedded in the bottom border. A padlock icon is centered within the right border and another appears inside a pink rectangle in the lower-right corner. An erroneous logo (a darkened rectangle containing a tree image and "MCT CREDIT UNION") and "Federal Credit Union, P.O. Box [missing number], Rockville, Maryland 20849-1250" appear in the top-left corner. The words "DATE" and "AMOUNT" are centered inside two shaded boxes in the right side.

Authentic checks are shaded pink and gray with dark gray borders. Embedded in the top border is the security feature statement "WARNING: DO NOT ACCEPT THIS DOCUMENT UNLESS YOU CAN SEE A WATERMARK VISIBLE FROM FRONT AND BACK WHEN HELD AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE TO THE LIGHT. THIS DOCUMENT ALSO CONTAINS VISIBLE FIBERS AND INVISIBLE FLUORESCENT FIBERS." The institution's logo (a zigzag line and "MCT FEDERAL CREDIT UNION") and "P.O. Box 1250, Rockville, Maryland 20849-1250, (301) 938-9880" appear in the top-left corner. The statement "VOID 90 DAYS AFTER ISSUE" and the institution's name appear above the "AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE" line in the lower-right corner.

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:

Fraud Department
Montgomery County Teacher's Federal Credit Union
15901 Frederick Road
Rockville, Maryland 20855
Telephone: (301) 948-9880
Fax: (240) 599-7589
E-mail: fraud@mctfcu.org

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