Springs Valley Bank & Trust Company, Jasper, Indiana, 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 are reportedly associated with a sweepstakes scam.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 083909445, which is assigned to Springs Valley Bank & Trust Company. The items are similar to authentic cashier's checks; however, the counterfeit items display the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" in a rectangular-shaped frame in the top center.

Authentic cashier's checks display ornate borders on all four sides and a security statement and padlock icon on the right side. The checks also display lines for "REMITTER," "DATE" and "PAY TO THE ORDER OF."

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:

Craig Buse
Assistant Vice President, IT Manager
1500 Main Street
Jasper, Indiana 47546
Telephone: (812) 634-4926
Fax: (812) 634-4833
E-mail: cbuse@svbt.com

Deborah L. Wilson
Vice President, Information Security Officer
Springs Valley Bank & Trust Company
1500 Main Street
Jasper, Indiana 47546
Telephone: (812) 634-4921
Fax: (812) 634-4833
E-mail: dwilson@svbt.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/2009/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)