Counterfeit official checks bearing the name New York Community Bank are reportedly in circulation

New York Community Bank, Islandia, New York, 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 021412114, which is assigned to New York Community Bank. The checks include the added statement "and original document security screen on back with padlock device icon." The security statement is along the top border of the check.

Authentic official checks display a security feature statement embedded in the top border and along the bottom border between two padlocks. A toll-free telephone number is displayed in the lower-left corner. An oval, bordered with lettering, surrounds a skeleton key picture and is displayed in the bottom center.

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:

Peter Lindner
Assistant Security Manager
Security Department
New York Community Bank
615 Merrick Avenue
Westbury, New York 11590
Telephone: (516) 683-4112
Fax: (516) 683-8099
E-mail: PLinder@mynycb.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/2009/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