South Adams Savings Bank, Adams, Massachusetts, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation. The counterfeit items are referred to as cashier's checks; however, authentic bank checks are referred to as treasurer's checks.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 211871523, which is assigned to South Adams Savings Bank. In addition, the counterfeit items have one signature line and display the bank's name in block lettering, but they do not display a logo or indicate a payable-through bank.

Authentic treasurer's checks contain two signature lines for amounts over $10,000; display a logo of a pine tree; and use different font styles for the bank's name. Authentic checks are payable through South Adams Savings Bank.

A copy of a counterfeit item and a copy of an authentic treasurer's check (VOID) are attached for your review.

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

Steve Jankowski
Deposit Operations / Security Officer
South Adams Savings Bank
2 Center Street
P.O. Box 306
Adams, Massachusetts 01220
Telephone: (413) 743-0040, extension 160
Fax: (413) 743-9548
sjankowski@sasavings.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)