First Independence Bank, Detroit, Michigan, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's former name are in circulation. The counterfeit items display the routing number 072001079, which is assigned to First Independence Bank.

Some counterfeit items have a toll-free number printed below the address. Printed beneath the amount line is: "This document has security features. Absence of the security features will indicate a copy." The paper stock of the counterfeit checks is either green or blue with a marble design and a watermark on the reverse side.

Authentic cashier's checks have a foil security strip with leaf shapes across the top, a copy shield background, and a security lock to the right of the dollar amount line. Authentic checks are light green, bear the words "Deluxe Crestwood" in the lower-right-hand corner, and have a watermark on the reverse side.

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic cashier's check (VOID) are attached for your review.

Any information you have concerning this matter should be brought to the attention of:

Jacquelyn T. Taylor
Bank Security Officer
First Independence Bank
44 Michigan Avenue
Detroit, MI 48226
Phone (313) 256-8495 (or 8432)
FAX (313) 256-8444
Email JacquelynTaylor@firstindependence.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. Information 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 Web site at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2006/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 online copies of fraudulent instruments or copies of the genuine instruments that have been counterfeited. This is to avoid attempts by others to use the electronic versions of these instruments to facilitate additional fraud. Printed copies of fraudulent instruments are mailed with the Special Alert letter to the financial institutions on the letter's distribution list (generally, FDIC-supervised banks – commercial and savings). Printed copies of the Special Alert and its attachment(s) may also be obtained from the FDIC's Public Information Center, 801 17th Street, NW, Room 100, Washington, DC 20434 (telephone: 1-877-275-3342 or (703) 562-2200; fax: (703) 562-2296; or e-mail: publicinfo@fdic.gov).

Distribution: Distribution: FDIC-Supervised Banks (Commercial and Savings)