Dime Bank, Norwich, Connecticut, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks and money orders bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 211173373, which is assigned to Dime Bank, but are dissimilar in appearance to authentic cashier's checks and authentic money orders. The counterfeit items have a statement describing security features embedded in the top border and the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" or "MONEY ORDER" displayed in the top center. The bank's name and a "Broadway Street" address appear in the top-left corner of the counterfeit items. The bank's name also appears above the authorized signature line in the lower-right corner, and the statement "SIGNATURE HAS A COLOURED BACKGROUND" is printed below the authorized signature line of both counterfeit items.

Authentic checks and money orders display the bank's Mercury Dime logo and name, the equal housing lender symbol, a Salem Turnpike address, and a telephone number in the upper-left corner. Printed vertically within the right border are a padlock symbol and the statements "Security features included. Details on back." The words "CASHIERS CHECK" are printed in the upper-right corner of authentic cashier's checks, and the words "PERSONAL MONEY ORDER" are printed in the top center of authentic money orders. On the lower-right side, authentic money orders require the following lines to be completed by the remitter: signature of the remitter, address, and city and state.

Copies of the counterfeit items, an authentic cashier's check (VOID), and an authentic money order (VOID) are attached for your review.

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

Shawn J. Pishka
Dime Bank
290 Salem Turnpike
Norwich, Connecticut 06360
Phone: (860) 859-4300
Fax: (860) 892-0045
E-mail: Spishka@dime-bank.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)