Counterfeit checks bearing the name Bank of Morton, Morton, Mississippi, are reportedly in circulation

Bank of Morton, Morton, Mississippi, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 061103056, which is assigned to Wachovia Bank, N.A., Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Bank of Morton issues bank checks through Moneygram Payment Systems, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota, using a payable-through account at Wachovia Bank, N.A. The items are dissimilar to authentic checks and when copied have a "VOID" background. A security feature statement is embedded in a darkened top border and along the bottom border between two padlock icons. A telephone number, which is not associated with the bank, is shown below the bank's name, location and the phrase "MEMBER FDIC" in the top-left corner.

Authentic checks are tan and have ornate borders. A security feature statement is displayed just below the top border. An artificial watermark appears on the reverse 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:

Ken L. Gordon
Executive Vice President
Bank of Morton
366 South 4th Street
Morton, Mississippi 39117
Telephone: (601) 732-8944, extension 223
Fax: (601) 732-8599
E-mail: ken@bankofmorton.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