Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name RBC Centura Bank, Atlanta, Georgia, are reportedly in circulation

RBC Bank (formerly RBC Centura Bank), Tucker, Georgia, 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 shopping scam.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 044015543, which is assigned Huntington National Bank, Columbus, Ohio. RBC Bank issues official checks through an account with Integrated Payment Systems, Inc., at Huntington National Bank.

RBC Bank does not issue cashiers check. The counterfeit items display the words "CASHIERS CHECK" in the top-left portion. A security feature statement is embedded in a darkened top border with rounded corners. The bank's logo, name ("RBC CENTURA"), address ("125 Perimeter Center W., Atlanta, GA 30346"), and a toll-free telephone number ("1-866-568-2184"), which is not associated with the bank, are in the top center. The words "REFERENCE," "DATE," "CHECK NO." and "AMOUNT" are in white print inside darkened boxes in the top-right quadrant. The word "MEMO" is in the lower-left corner.

The bank issues official checks. Authentic official checks have ornate borders on the top and sides with squared corners. The words "OFFICIAL CHECK" are incorporated in the top border and centered between the following security feature statements: "THE DOCUMENT HAS AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK PRINTED ON THE BACK. THE FRONT OF THE DOCUMENT" and "HAS A MICRO PRINT SIGNATURE LINE AND BORDER ABSENCE OF THESE FEATURES WILL INDICATE A COPY." A heat-sensitive octagon with "RUB HERE" printed above and "COLOR FADES WITH HEAT" below is shown in the top-right corner. The following security feature statement is embedded in a darkened bottom border: "THE VARIABLE TONE BACKGROUND AREA OF THIS DOCUMENT CHANGES COLOR GRADUALLY AND SMOOTHLY FROM DARKER TONES AT THE TOP TO THE LIGHTEST TONE AT THE BOTTOM." The words "City/Branch," "Description," "Preparer's Initials" and "Amount" are in the top-left corner. "DRAWER: RBC Centura Bank" is shown above two signature lines, with "Authorized Signature" below the first line and "Two signatures required for amounts of $10,000 or more" below the second 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:

Roland Foisia
Fraud Investigations Manager
RBC Bank
2355 Main Street
Tucker, Georgia 30084
Telephone: (404) 495-6431
Fax: (404) 495-6427
E-mail: roland.foisia@rbc.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