Counterfeit official checks bearing the name Air Academy Federal Credit Union, Colorado Springs, Colorado, are reportedly in circulation

Air Academy Federal Credit Union, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 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 092005411, which is assigned to First Interstate Bank, Helena, Montana. Air Academy Federal Credit Union issues its official checks through a payable-through account held at First Interstate Bank.

The items are similar to authentic official checks. However, the counterfeit items display a security feature statement embedded within a darkened top border and above the bottom border 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:

Carolyn L. Marsala
Fraud Specialist
Air Academy Federal Credit Union
9810 North Union Boulevard
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80924-5002
Telephone: (800) 223-1983, extension 1044
Fax: (719) 535-8782
E-mail: cmarsala@aafcu.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