Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Community First Bank, Somerset, New Jersey, are reportedly in circulation

Community First Bank, Somerset, New Jersey, 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 021214574, which is assigned to Community First Bank. The items are markedly dissimilar to authentic checks. The counterfeit items display the bank's name and address in the top-left corner. The word "REMITTER" appears in the lower-left corner. One "AUTHORISED SIGNATURE" line appears in the lower-right corner. "FDIC INSURED" is displayed above the signature line.

Authentic cashier's checks display the bank's name, address and logo in the top-left corner. The word "Memo" appears in the lower-left corner. Two "AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE" lines appear in the lower-right corner. A padlock security icon appears above the signature lines.

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:

Julie Y. Noles
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Community First Bank
408 Elizabeth Avenue
Somerset, New Jersey 08873-5119
Telephone: (732) 564-4115
Fax: (732) 560-1002
E-mail: Julie@communityfirstnj.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-3054, 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/2010/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