Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Southern Bank, Sardis, Georgia, are reportedly in circulation

Southern Bank, Sardis, 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 counterfeit items display the routing number 061212235, which is assigned to Southern Bank. The items also display three different bank branch addresses across the top and a security feature embedded in a darkened top border.

Authentic cashier's checks display an indemnity notice below the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" in the lower-left corner. The checks also display four different bank branch addresses across the top and a local telephone number below the bank's name and logo in the top-left corner. A padlock symbol is shown to the right of the printed word "DOLLARS."

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:

Kathy Cannon
Vice President
Southern Bank
P.O. Box 927
Waynesboro, Georgia 30830
Telephone: (706) 437-9977
Fax: (706) 554-0517
E-mail: bank@burke.net

Alternate Contact:

Rolene Oliver
Bookkeeper
Southern Bank
P.O. Box 927
Waynesboro, Georgia 30830
Telephone: (706) 437-9977
Fax: (706) 554-0517
E-mail: bank@burke.net

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

Attachment (not available electronically)

NOTE: As a security precaution, the FDIC does not post to its Web site electronic images of fraudulent items or authentic checks that have been counterfeited. This is to avoid attempts by others to use these instruments to facilitate additional fraud. Financial institutions can view images of the fraudulent items and authentic checks (marked as VOID) using the FDIC's free, secure Web site, FDICconnect. (See more information about FDICconnect at http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/financial/2006/fil06032.html.) Printed copies of each Special Alert and its attachment(s) may also be obtained from the FDIC's Public Information Center (telephone: 1-877-275-3342 or 703-562-2200; fax: 703-562-2296; or e-mail: publicinfo@fdic.gov).

Distribution: FDIC-Supervised Banks (Commercial and Savings)