Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Cumberland Valley National Bank & Trust Company, London, Kentucky, are reportedly in circulation

Cumberland Valley National Bank & Trust Company, East Bernstadt, Kentucky, 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 e-bay and other Internet purchasing scams.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 042104825, which is assigned to Cumberland Valley National Bank & Trust Company. The items are dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks and have a "VOID" background when copied. The counterfeit items display the following security feature statement embedded in 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."

Authentic cashier's checks are green and have a white background. They display the following security feature statement embedded in the darkened top square-cornered border: "THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED PANTOGRAPH." The following statement is embedded in a darkened bottom border: "WARNING: DO NOT ACCEPT THIS DOCUMENT UNLESS YOU CAN SEE A GHOSTMARK ON THE BACK WHEN HELD AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE TO THE LIGHT."

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:

Joe Schenkenfelder
Bank Security Officer
Cumberland Valley National Bank & Trust Company
P.O. Box 709
London, Kentucky 40743
Telephone: (606) 878-7010, extension 7336
Fax: (606) 877-3028
E-mail: JSchenkenfelder@CVNB.com

Alternate Contact:

Karen Greene
Internal Auditor
Cumberland Valley National Bank & Trust Company
P.O. Box 709
London, Kentucky 40743
Telephone: (606) 878-7010, extension 7313
Fax: (606) 878-8991
E-mail: KarenGreene@CVNB.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