Counterfeit official bank checks bearing the name First Savings Bank of Hegewisch, Lansing, Illinois, are reportedly in circulation

First Savings Bank of Hegewisch, Chicago, Illinois, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit official bank checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 271070814, which is assigned to First Savings Bank of Hegewisch. The items also display a security feature statement that is embedded in a darkened top border. The words "OFFICIAL BANK CHECK" appear below the bank's name in the top-left corner. An address, which is not associated with the bank, is in the top-center area. A "Memo" line is in the lower-left corner.

Authentic official bank checks are light yellow and display a padlock security icon embedded in the right border. A "NOTICE TO CUSTOMER" statement appears to the right of the bank's logo, name and address in the top-left corner. The words "OFFICIAL BANK CHECK" and the statement "VOID AFTER 180 DAYS" appear above a microprint signature line in the lower-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:

Thomas Golas
Vice President and Controller
First Savings Bank of Hegewisch
13220 Baltimore Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60633
Toll-Free: (800) 752-8382, extension 206
Fax: (773) 646-8205
E-mail: t.golas@fsbhegewisch.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