Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Bank of Bennington, Bennington, Nebraska, are reportedly in circulation

Bank of Bennington, Bennington, Nebraska, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation. The items are reportedly associated with a mystery shopper scam.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 104913019, which is assigned to Bank of Bennington. The items are markedly dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks. The counterfeit items display a security feature statement embedded in a darkened top border and along the bottom border between two padlocks. The words "CASHIER'S CHECK" and an indemnity statement appear in the top center. In the top-left corner appear a false logo; the bank's name (repeated twice); the statement "Payable through Bank of Bennington, Bennington, NE"; and a telephone number, "(866) 475-8028," which is not associated with the bank. The word "REMITTER" is also shown in the lower-left corner. The bank's name is repeated above two signature lines in the lower-right corner. The words "AUTHORIZATION SIGNATURE" appear below the first signature line and the word "COUNTERSIGNED" is shown below the second signature line.

Authentic cashier's checks are blue and display the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" in the lower-left corner. The bank's name appears in the top center. The word "REMITTER" is shown in the top-left corner and "BENNINGTON, NE" is printed to the left of the word "DATE." "AN AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE" appears above one 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:

Doyle D. Koch
Executive Vice President and Security Officer
Bank of Bennington
12212 North 156th Street
Bennington, Nebraska 68007
Telephone: (402) 238-2245
Fax: (402) 238-2914
E-mail: dkoch@bankbenn.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