Counterfeit official checks bearing the name AJ Smith Federal Savings Bank are reportedly in circulation

A. J. Smith Federal Savings Bank, Midlothian, Illinois, 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 271970448, which is assigned to A. J. Smith Federal Savings Bank. The items have ornate top and bottom borders with security feature statements embedded in them.

Authentic checks have a green marbled background. A security feature statement is displayed at the top of the check above the words "OFFICIAL CHECK."

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:

Pamela Favero
Chief Financial Officer and Bank Secrecy Act Officer
A. J. Smith Federal Savings Bank
14757 South Cicero Avenue
Midlothain, Illinois 60445
Telephone: (708) 237-8127
Fax: (708) 687-7477
Email: pfavero@ajsmithbank.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