Counterfeit money orders bearing the name Wells Federal Bank, Wells, Minnesota, are reportedly in circulation

Wells Federal Bank, FSB, Wells, Minnesota, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit money orders 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. Wells Federal Bank, FSB, issues its money orders through Money Gram Payment Systems, Incorporated, Minneapolis, Minnesota, using an account at The Bank of New York Mellon. A security feature statement is centered in a box within the top border. The words "Agent Check" and "Money Order" are displayed in the top-center area of the items.

Authentic cashier's checks are yellow and display darkened top and bottom borders, with a security feature statement embedded in the top border. The words "Agent Check" and "Money Order" are displayed in the center of the items. The numerical dollar amount appears in a box entitled "AMOUNT" 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:

James D. Moll
Chief Financial Officer
Wells federal Bank, FSB
53 First Street Southwest
P.O. Box 310
Wells, Minnesota 56097
Telephone: (507) 553-4117
Fax: (507) 553-6609
E-mail: jmoll@wellsfederal.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