Thomaston Savings Bank, Thomaston, Connecticut, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 211174259, which is assigned to Thomaston Savings Bank. However, Thomaston Savings Bank issues official checks through Integrated Payment Systems, Inc., Englewood, Colorado, and the official checks display the routing number 102000979, which is assigned to JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA, Denver, Colorado. The counterfeit items also display "Cashier's Check" in the top center, and the following wording is embedded in the top border: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK." The counterfeit items do not display a logo. Authentic official checks display the bank's name and logo in the top-left corner and a lock in the lower-right corner of the check. Authentic checks also include a scroll border with "OFFICIAL CHECK" embedded in a box that overlays the top border of the check. A copy of a counterfeit item and a copy of an authentic official check (VOID) are attached for your review.

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

John Williamson
Vice President and Security Officer
Thomaston Savings Bank
203 Main Street
P.O. Box 907
Thomaston, Connecticut 06787
Telephone: (860) 283-1874
Fax: (860) 283-6621
jwilliamson@thomastonsavingsbank.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, 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)