Catch These Counterfeits!

The good thing about bank cashier's checks is that they are readily accepted and often treated the same as cash. The bad thing is that if the cashier's check is bogus, it's as worthless as any other counterfeit item. And today, FDIC issued an alert announcing that counterfeit cashier's checks drawn on eight different banks (two with the same name, but using different routing numbers) in five states have surfaced.

Take action!

• Forward this information (or print and circulate it) to all personnel within your institution who process checks.
  
• Instruct your employees to scrutinize cashier's checks before paying out on them or giving next-day availability, if deposited. Make sure, before you give credit for them, that they don't match the description of the counterfeit items below.
  
• If a counterfeit is detected, contact the financial institution with the contact information listed below.
  
• Information about these instruments also may be forwarded to the FDIC's Special Activities Section, 550 17th Street, NW, Room F-6012, Washington, DC 20429. Information also may be transmitted electronically to alert@fdic.gov.
  
• Reiterate to employees your internal procedures which are to be followed in the event they encounter a counterfeit check. Employees should be informed about who to notify internally and whether they should attempt to delay or detain the customer in order for the security officer to intervene.
  

Listed below is the information regarding the counterfeit items.

The seven institutions are:

Corus Bank
Chicago, Illinois

First Citrus Bank
Tampa, Florida

Liberty National Bank
Longwood, Florida

Abington Savings Bank
Abington, Massachusetts

SunTrust Bank, East Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee

National City Bank of Michigan/Illinois
Bannockburn, Illinois

Community Bank
Covina, California

Identification Tips for Counterfeit Items and Bank Contact
Corus Bank, Chicago, Illinois
The bank's real routing number is used on the counterfeit items (071002503).
Contact: Mr. Frank Lamar
Operations Special Services Supervisor
(773) 832-7930

First Citrus Bank, Tampa, Florida
The routing number used on the counterfeit items is that of another Florida Bank (063114810).
Contact: Mr. John Linton
(813) 926-5588
(813) 920-3814 fax

Liberty National Bank, Longwood, Florida
Two incorrect routing numbers are used on the counterfeit items (122000496) and (06114810).
Contact: Ms Joyce Franklin
(407) 831-1776
(407) 831-1443 fax

Abington Savings Bank, Abington, Massachusetts
The bank's real routing number is used on the counterfeit items (211371308).
Contact: Ms. Ida C. Frazier
(781) 792-1122
(781) 982-3225 fax

SunTrust Bank, East Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
The bank's real routing number is used on the counterfeit items (064202750).
Contact: Ms. Stephanie J. Hardiman
(865) 544-2589
(865) 544-2513 fax

National City Bank of Michigan/Illinois, Bannockburn, Illinois
There are two different versions of these counterfeits: Counterfeit cashier's checks drawn on National City Bank of Michigan/Illinois, Bannockburn, Illinois, and counterfeit cashier's checks drawn on "National City Bank" with no further identifying information on the item. The routing number was not given but the items are drawn on National City Bank and are payable through Integrated Payment Systems, Inc. Englewood, Colorado.
The paying bank may be shown as Norwest Bank, Colorado N. A., Denver, Colorado or Citibank (New York State), Buffalo, N.Y.
Contact: Integrated Payment Systems, Inc.
1-(800) 223-7520 and follow the instructions.

Community Bank, Covina, California
The bank's real routing number is used on the counterfeit items ( 122203471).
Legitimate checks are light gray with burgundy print. The bank's name is printed in dark grey.
Counterfeit checks are light brown with a dark brown top border that states:
THIS INSTRUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND, VOID PANTOGRAPH AND MICROPRINTING. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK.
Contact: Ms. Deborah Grant
(626) 947-1214
(626) 974-1212

FDIC FIL 68-2002

Copyright, 2002, BankersOnline. All rights reserved. First published on BankersOnline.com 6/19/02.