Counterfeit official checks bearing the name Florence Savings Bank, Florence, Massachusetts, are reportedly in circulation

Florence Savings Bank, Florence, Massachusetts, 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 211871688, which is assigned to Florence Savings Bank. The items are nearly identical to authentic cashier's checks; however, the counterfeit items are aqua blue. Security feature statements are embedded in solid blue top and bottom borders.

Authentic cashier's checks are printed on blue marbled paper. A security feature statement is embedded in a dark blue top 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:

Michele Lawrence-Bennett
Security Officer
Florence Savings Bank
85 Main Street
Florence, Massachusetts 01062
Telephone: (413) 587-4797
Fax: (413) 586-0241
E-mail: Michele.Lawrence-Bennett@Florencebank.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