Counterfeit money orders bearing the name BankNewport, Newport, Rhode Island, are reportedly in circulation

BankNewport, Newport, Rhode Island, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit money orders bearing the institution's name are in circulation. The item is reportedly associated with a mystery shopping scam.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 102000979, which is assigned to JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., Denver, Colorado. BankNewport issues its money orders through Integrated Payment Systems, Inc., Englewood, Colorado, using a payable-through account at JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. The items are markedly dissimilar to authentic money orders. The counterfeit items display a security padlock icon and security statement above the numeric amount box in the top-right corner. "NOT VALID OVER $5,000.00" is shown below the written dollar amount. "REMITTER" is centered below the signature line.

Authentic money orders display a security padlock icon and statement in the lower-right corner. "NOT VALID OVER $2,500.00" is shown below the written dollar amount. "REMITTER" is below the left side of the signature line.

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:

Denise Tansey
Vice President and Security Manager
Bank Newport
528 West Main Road
Middletown, Rhode Island 02842
Telephone: (401) 845-8717
Fax: (401) 849-6920
E-mail: denise.tansey@banknewport.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