Counterfeit official checks bearing the name Citizens South Bank, Gastonia, North Carolina, are reportedly in circulation

Citizens South Bank, Gastonia, North Carolina, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit official checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 253170512, which is assigned to Citizens South Bank. However, Citizens South Bank issues official checks through a MoneyGram Payment Systems Inc. account, payable through US Bank, St. Paul, Minnesota. The authentic checks reflect the routing number 096016765.

The counterfeit items also display the words "OFFICIAL CHECK" inside of a rectangular box with rounded corners that is embedded in the center of the top border. They also display a toll-free telephone number ("1-888-210-4031"), which is not associated with the bank, below the bank's name and address in the upper-left corner.

Authentic official checks display a security statement beneath the top border. The bank's logo, consisting of a crescent moon shape striking through the bank's name, is shown in the upper-left corner. The bank's local telephone number ("704-868-5200") appears below the bank's name and address in the upper-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:

Christy Henderson
Accounting Specialist
Citizens South Bank
519 South New Hope Road
Gastonia, North Carolina 28054
Telephone: (704) 884-2280
E-mail: christy.henderson@citizenssouth.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