Mascoma Savings Bank, Lebanon, New Hampshire, 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 display the routing number 211770213, which is assigned to Mascoma Savings Bank. However, the bank issues authentic official checks through MoneyGram International, Inc. (formerly known as Travelers Express Company, Inc.) and are drawn on an account at U.S. Bank National Association, St. Paul, Minnesota. Authentic official checks display the routing number 096016765, which is assigned to U.S. Bank National Association.

The counterfeit items are dissimilar in appearance to authentic checks. In the top-left corner of the counterfeit item, the bank's name and logo are displayed in light print on a shaded background, and they appear to be a negative image. The bank's name, an incorrect branch address and a telephone number not associated with the bank are printed in the top center. "Cashier's Check" is printed in the lower-left corner. Printed in the top border is the statement "THIS DOCUMENT HAS SECURITY FEATURES - THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK."

Authentic checks display the bank's name and logo in dark print against a light background in the upper-left corner. "OFFICIAL CHECK" is printed in the top center. Two authorized signature lines are displayed. The checks are printed on green security paper, with ornate borders on the top and sides. The following statement appears across the bottom: "THE VARIABLE TONE BACKGROUND AREA OF THIS DOCUMENT CHANGES COLOR GRADUALLY AND SMOOTHLY FROM DARKER TONE AT THE TOP TO THE LIGHTEST TONE AT THE BOTTOM."

A copy of a counterfeit item and a copy of an authentic item (void) are attached for your review.

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

Peter E. Begin
Security Officer
Mascoma Savings Bank
67 North Park Street
Lebanon, NH 03766
Telephone: (603) 443-8664
FAX: (603) 448-1470
peter.begin@mascomabank.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)