Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Bank of Eastern Oregon, Heppner, Oregon, are reportedly in circulation

Bank of Eastern Oregon, Heppner, Oregon, 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 are reportedly associated with a mystery shopper scam.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 123203535, which is assigned to Bank of Eastern Oregon, but are dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks. The counterfeit items display the security feature statement "THIS CHECK IS VOID WITHOUT A BLUE & PURPLE BACKGROUND AND AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK CERTIFICATION SEAL ON THE BACK – HOLD AT ANGLE TO VIEW SEAL" within a dark blue top border. The bank's logo and name (in red print) appear in the top-left corner. The bank's name (repeated) and address appear in the top center. The words "CASHIER'S CHECK" (with an apostrophe) are printed in the lower-left corner above an indemnity bond statement. Printed along the right bottom border is "SIGNATURE HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND • BORDER CONTAINS MICROPRINTING."

Authentic checks display the bank logo, telephone number ("541-676-9125") and street address in the top center. "CASHIERS CHECK" (without an apostrophe) is printed in the top-right corner. A security padlock symbol with a security statement appears vertically within the right border.

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:

Becky Kindle
Vice President and Branch Administrator
Bank of Eastern Oregon
P.O. Box 39
Heppner, Oregon 97836
Telephone: (541) 676-0201
Fax: (541) 676-0226
E-mail: bkindle@beobank.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