Counterfeit official checks bearing the name Provident Community Bank, Union, South Carolina, are reportedly in circulation

Provident Community Bank, National Association, Rock Hill, South 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 011007092, which is assigned to Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Company, Boston, Massachusetts. Provident Community Bank, National Association, issues official checks through Moneygram Payment Systems, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota, payable through an account at Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Company.

The counterfeit items are almost identical to authentic official checks; however, they display a security feature statement embedded in the top border and along the bottom border between two padlocks.

Authentic official checks display a vertical security statement and padlock icon in the right border. Also, the bank's telephone number is displayed below its name and address in the top-center area.

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:

Hollie R. Mitchell
Banking Center Operations Manager
Provident Community Bank
203 West Main Street
Union, South Carolina 29379
Telephone: (864) 429-1851
Fax: (864) 429-1866
E-mail: hmitchell@providentonline.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