Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name BankFirst Financial Services, Starkville, Mississippi, are reportedly in circulation

BankFirst Financial Services, Macon, Mississippi, 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 084201786, which is assigned to BankFirst Financial Services. The items are markedly dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks. Counterfeit items display the bank's name and the words "BANK CASHIER'S CHECK" in the top-left corner. The bank's name is repeated in the lower-left corner along with the bank's address and a "Memo" line. A rectangle contains the numeric dollar amount on the right side.

Authentic cashier's checks have double-lined borders with ornate inner borders. A padlock icon and vertical security statement appear within the right inner border. The words "CASHIER'S CHECK" are in the lower-left corner. The bank's name and address are in the top-center area. A "NOTICE TO CUSTOMER," an indemnity bond statement and the word "REMITTER" appear 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:

Ms. Debbie Kirk
First Vice President of Security
BankFirst Financial Services
110 South Jefferson Street
Macon, Mississippi 39341
Telephone: (662) 726-1044
Fax: (662) 726-1222
E-mail: dkirk@bankfirstfs.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