Counterfeit officers check bearing the name TrustCo Bank, Schenectady, New York, are reportedly in circulation

rustCo Bank, Glenville, New York, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit officer's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 021300912, which is assigned to TrustCo Bank. The items are markedly dissimilar to authentic officers checks and display the following security statement embedded within a darkened top border with rounded corners: "THIS CHECK IS VOID WITHOUT A BLUE & BURGUNDY BACKGROUND AND AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK ON THE BACK-HOLD AT ANGLE TO VIEW." The bank's name and the phrase "VOID OVER $5,000.00" are shown in the top-left corner below the bank's logo, name, the slogan "Your Home Town Bank," and that bank's address. The back of counterfeit items displays a security warning and the statement "BORDERS ON THE FACE AND BACK CONTAIN MICROPRINTING AND MAY BE SEEN UNDER MAGNIFICATION-LOOK FOR-ORIGINAL DOCUMENT" below the endorsement line.

Authentic checks are light green in color. The bank's logo is displayed as a watermark in white print.

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:

Thomas M. Poitras
Vice President
TrustCo Bank
5 Sarnowski Drive
Glenville, New York 12302
Telephone: (518) 381-3680
Fax: (518) 381-3668
E-mail: tpoitras@trustcobank.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