Counterfeit official checks bearing the name Franklin Bank, Woodstown, New Jersey, are reportedly in circulation

Franklin Bank, Pilesgrove, New Jersey, 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 011007092, which is assigned to The Bank of New York Mellon, Everett, Massachusetts. Franklin Bank issues its checks through a MoneyGram Payment Systems, Inc. account, payable at The Bank of New York Mellon. A security feature statement is embedded in a darkened top border and along the bottom border between two padlock icons. The statement "Benefit From Our Experience" is displayed between the bank's name and address in the top-left corner. The words "OFFICIAL CHECK" are in the top center. One "AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE" line appears in the lower-right corner.

Authentic checks are green and display a solid darkened top border and two microprint "AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE" lines 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:

Christine O. Kugler
Security Officer
Franklin Bank
1179 Route 40
P.O. Box 230
Woodstown, New Jersey 08098-0230
Telephone: (856) 769-4400, extension 1141
Fax: (856) 769-5571
E-mail: ckugler@franklinbnk.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