Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Equity Bank, Dallas, Texas, are reportedly in circulation

Equity Bank, Dallas, Texas, 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 associated with a secret shopper scam.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 064103079, which is assigned to Regions Bank, Birmingham, Alabama. The counterfeit items are markedly dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks and have a "VOID" background when copied. The items display the following security feature statement within the top border: "FOR SECURITY PURPOSES THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING IN THE BORDER." A security statement is also shown along the bottom border between two padlocks.

Authentic checks display the routing number 111909579, which is assigned to Equity Bank. The following security feature statement is embedded in the top border: "THIS CHECK CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING SECURITY FEATURES: MULTI-COLOR PRINTING ON FACE, WATERMARK IN PAPER, AND MICROPRINTING ON BORDER." The bank's telephone number is shown below its logo, name and address in the top-left 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:

Karen Westfall
Vice President of Branch Administration
Equity Bank
5220 Spring Valley Road, Suite 160
Dallas, Texas 75254
Telephone: (214) 237-3163
Fax: (972) 503-8202
E-mail: kwestfall@theequitybank.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