Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Falcon International Bank are reportedly in circulation

Falcon International Bank, Laredo, 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 counterfeit items display the routing number 114915803, which is assigned to Falcon International Bank. The items are markedly dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks and have ornate top and side borders with solid squares in the top corners and solid circles in the bottom corners. On either side of a rectangle in the top center are the repetitive words "INTEGRATED PAYMENT SYSTEM" and "HOLD DOCUMENT TO THE LIGHT TO VIEW TRUE WATERMARK." A padlock icon and security feature statement appears in the top-right corner.

Authentic cashier's checks have an ornate top border. The following security feature statement is written in italics below the written dollar amount line: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A MULTI-COLOR BACKGROUND, A MICRO-PRINT SIGNATURE LINE, AND A HOLOGRAPHIC FOIL TITLE; ABSENCE OF THESE FEATURES WILL INDICATE A COPY." A padlock icon and security feature statement are embedded in 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:

Roy J. Gonzales
Senior Executive Vice President
Falcon International Bank
5219 McPherson Road
Laredo, Texas 78041
Telephone: (956) 723-2265
Fax: (956) 723 0841
E-mail: rgonzales@falconbank.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