Counterfeit expense checks bearing the name International Bank of Commerce, Laredo, Texas, are reportedly in circulation

International Bank of Commerce, Laredo, Texas, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit expense checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 114902528, which is assigned to International Bank of Commerce. The items also display the following security statement embedded in the top border: "THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND ON WHITE PAPER." The bank's address of "1200 San Bernardo St., Laredo, TX 78040-6301" is shown in the top center below that bank's name and the phrase "Member FDIC /International Bancshares Corporation."

Authentic expense checks display the word "DATE" adjacent to the bank's name. The following security statement is embedded in the top border: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A VOID PANTOGRAPH, MICROPRINTING AND AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK."

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic expense 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:

Susan Wisdom
Loss Prevention Officer
International Bank of Commerce
1200 San Bernardo
Laredo, Texas 78040
Telephone: (956) 547-1340
Fax: (956) 550-0677
E-mail: swisdom@ibc.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