Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Peoples Bank, Newton, North Carolina, are reportedly in circulation

Peoples Bank, Newton, North Carolina, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's 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, Boston, Massachusetts. Peoples Bank, Newton, North Carolina, issues cashier's checks using a payable through account at Boston Safe Deposit & Trust. The items have a single border line with a "WARNING" security feature statement in the top center. A padlock icon appears along the right border. The word "MEMO" appears in the lower-left corner and one authorized signature line appears in the lower-right corner.

Authentic checks are yellow with an ornate border with the security feature statement "THIS DOCUMENT HAS AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK PRINTED ON THE BACK. THE FRONT OF THE DOCUMENT HAS A MICROPRINT SIGNATURE LINE. ABSENCE OF THESE FEATURES WILL INDICATE A COPY." A heat sensor appears below the check number in the upper-right corner. There are two signature lines in the bottom-right 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:

Peoples Bank
P.O. Box 467
Newton, North Carolina 28658
Telephone: (800) 948-7195
Fax: (828) 466-5047
E-mail: collis@peoplesbanknc.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