Counterfeit official checks bearing the name Artisans' Bank are reportedly in circulation

Artisans' Bank, Wilmington, Delaware, 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 231175759, which is assigned to Artisans' Bank. The items are very similar to authentic official checks. However, the counterfeit items are printed on gray paper, while authentic checks are printed on green check stock and display a vertical security statement along the right side.

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:

Joseph Strusowski
Assistant Vice President and Security Officer
Artisans' Bank
Red Clay Center Building
2961 Centerville Road
Wilmington, Delaware 19808
Telephone: (302) 884-6571
Fax: (302) 654-0559
E-mail: jstrusowski@artisansbank.com

Alternate Contact:

John E. Sowden
Senior Vice President
Artisans' Bank
Red Clay Center Building
2961 Centerville Road
Wilmington, Delaware 19808
Telephone: (302) 884-6851
Fax: (302) 654-0559
E-mail: jsowden@artisansbank.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