Counterfeit official checks bearing the name Heritage Bank of Nevada are reportedly in circulation

Special Alerts

SA-23-2011
August 2, 2011

TO: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (also of interest to Security Officer)SUBJECT: Counterfeit Official Checks Summary: Counterfeit official checks bearing the name Heritage Bank of Nevada are reportedly in circulation.

Heritage Bank of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, 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 121201814, which is assigned to Heritage Bank of Nevada. The items are markedly dissimilar to authentic official checks. A security feature statement is centered below the top border. A vertical security feature statement and padlock icon are centered along the right border. The words "OFFICIAL CHECK" are top-centered inside a round-cornered rectangle. The bank's name is in the top-left corner. An indemnity bond statement and "Issued by Integrated Payment Systems, Inc., Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., New York, NY" are in the lower-left corner. A restrictive statement is shown above and "REMITTER" below the signature line

Authentic official checks have a green background with ornate borders. A security feature statement and padlock icon follow "DOLLARS" on the right side. The words "OFFICIAL CHECK" are top-centered inside an elongated rectangle with outward arrows at each end. The bank's name, P.O. Box address, and telephone number are in the lower-left corner. "REMITTER" is in the top-left 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:

Steve Carrick
Senior Vice President of Operations
Heritage Bank of Nevada
1401 South Virginia Street
Reno, Nevada 89502
Telephone: (775) 321-4109
Fax: (775) 348-0488
E-mail: scarrick@heritagebanknevada.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, 3501 North Fairfax Drive, CH-11034, Arlington, Virginia 22226, 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 Web site at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2011/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 Risk Management Supervision

Attachment (not available electronically)

NOTE: As a security precaution, the FDIC does not post to its Web site electronic images of fraudulent items or authentic checks that have been counterfeited. This is to avoid attempts by others to use these instruments to facilitate additional fraud. Financial institutions can view images of the fraudulent items and authentic checks (marked as VOID) using the FDIC's free, secure Web site, FDICconnect. (See more information about FDICconnect at http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/financial/2006/fil06032.html.) Printed copies of each Special Alert and its attachment(s) may also be obtained from the FDIC's Public Information Center (telephone: 1-877-275-3342 or 703-562-2200; fax: 703-562-2296; or e-mail: publicinfo@fdic.gov).

Distribution: FDIC-Supervised Banks (Commercial and Savings)