COUNTERFEIT CASHIER'S CHECKS ARE CIRCULATING IN MISSISSIPPI

The following special alert excerpt was sent out by the FDIC via e-mail:

October 18, 2011


"TO: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (also of interest to Security Officer)
SUBJECT: Counterfeit Cashier's Checks
Summary: Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name First State Bank, Waynesboro, Mississippi, are reportedly in circulation.



First State Bank, Waynesboro, Mississippi, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 065304084, which is assigned to First State Bank. The items are blue and have ornate top and side borders. The words "CASHIER'S CHECK" are shown inside of a box in the top center. The items display the bank's logo, name, and address are in the top-left corner. The words "AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE" are shown below the signature line in the lower-right corner.

Authentic cashier's checks have the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" in the lower-left corner. The bank's name, logo, and address are in the top-center area. The words "AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE" are shown above the 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:

Sharon Beard
Compliance Officer
First State Bank
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 website 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.

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)

Sandra L. Thompson
Director
Division of Risk Management Supervision"