Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Farmers & Merchants Bank, Rudolph, Wisconsin, are reportedly in circulation

Farmers and Merchants Bank, Rudolph, Wisconsin, 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 075909660, which is assigned to Farmers and Merchants Bank. The items are dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks. A security feature statement is embedded in a darkened top border and along the bottom border between two padlock icons. The words "CASHIER'S CHECK" are displayed in the lower-left corner. The words "AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE; ACCEPTED BY DRAWER/DRAWEE" are displayed below the signature line in the lower-right corner.

Authentic cashier's checks have ornate borders. A padlock icon and security feature statement are embedded in the right border.

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:

Dave Cooper
Loan Officer
Farmers and Merchants Bank
P.O. Box 167
Rudolph, Wisconsin 54475
Telephone: (715) 435-3111
Fax: (715) 435-3100
E-mail: dcooper@wctc.net

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