The Business Bank, Minnetonka, Minnesota, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation. The items are reportedly associated with a mystery shopper scam.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 091917212, which is assigned to The Business Bank, but are markedly dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks. The counterfeit items display a security feature statement embedded in the top border, and the bank's name and logo in the top- left corner. A scroll centered in the top contains the words "CASHIER'S CHECK." A rectangle with rounded corners and the statement "A SIGNATURE AREA CONTAINS A KNIGHT & FINGERPRINTING CHECK WORDING" are in the lower-right corner. The word "REMITTER" appears in the lower-left corner.

Authentic cashier's checks display the routing number 091017099, which is also assigned to The Business Bank. The checks are light blue with a diamond background, ornate borders and square corners. The bank's name, logo and address appear in the top-center portion. The words "CASHIER'S CHECK" are displayed in the lower-left corner. A padlock icon and vertical security feature statement are embedded in the right border. Two signature lines appear in the lower-right corner. The word "REMITTER" appears 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:

Mark Luukkonen
Vice President and Cashier
The Business Bank
11100 Wayzata Boulevard, Suite 150
Minnetonka, Minnesota 55305
Telephone: (866) 847-1100
Fax: (952) 847-9016
E-mail: mluukkonen@businessbankmn.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)