Horicon Bank, Horicon, Wisconsin, 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 075905622, which is assigned to Horicon Bank, but are dissimilar in style to authentic cashier's checks. The counterfeit items display the wording "Cashier's Check" in the top-left portion of the check and the bank's name and location in the top center. The counterfeit items also display a telephone number – not associated with the bank – directly beneath the location and refer to the bank as Horicon State Bank, rather than Horicon Bank. The counterfeit items do not display a logo, but contain security wording embedded in the top border of the item.

Authentic cashier's checks display a logo in the top-center portion of the check, above the bank's name and location. The wording "CASHIER'S CHECK" is displayed in the bottom-left portion of the check. Security wording is displayed beneath the dollar line.

A copy 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:

Sheila Kast
Teller Coordinator – Fraud Prevention
Horicon Bank
326 E. Lake St.
Horicon, Wisconsin 53032
Telephone: (920) 485-3040, extension 7366
Fax: (920) 485-3049
sheilak@horiconbank.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 website 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)