Lake Forest Bank and Trust Company, Lake Forest, Illinois, 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 071925334, which is assigned to Lake Forest Bank and Trust Company, but are markedly dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks. The counterfeit items are light blue and white with a gold square in the middle and dark blue borders. A security feature statement is embedded within the top border and the bank's name is printed in the top-left corner. The words "CASHIER'S CHECK," the bank's address and several telephone numbers, which are not associated with the bank, are shown in the top-center area. A grid containing the words "Account Number," "Record Date," "Payment Date," "Rate" and "Purchaser" appears near the middle portion. "Payable At Lake Forest Bank, U.S.A., NA, Lake Forest, Illinois" and a security padlock are shown in the lower-right corner. A "VOID" background is displayed when the counterfeit item is copied.

Authentic cashier's checks are mint green in color and have white outer borders. The words "Cashier's Check" and "Remitter" are printed in the top-left corner. The bank's name, address, and telephone number ("847/234 2882") are displayed near the top center.

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:

Mary Ann Gannon
Senior Vice President of Operations
Lake Forest Bank and Trust Company
727 North Bank Lane
Lake Forest, Illinois 60045
Telephone: (847) 615-4075
Fax: (866) 458-6048
E-mail: mgannon@lakeforestbank.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-4004, 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/2008/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

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)