United Commercial Bank, San Francisco, California, 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 include the routing number 321070450, which is assigned to United Commercial Bank, and are similar to authentic checks. The counterfeit items display the bank's name and address in the top-left portion of the item, a lock symbol near the center, and one signature line.

Authentic cashier's checks display the bank's name in all capital letters above the address in the top-left portion of the check. The checks include the wording "VOID AFTER 90 DAYS OF ISSUANCE" near the top center, a verification box in the top right, and a lock symbol near the right edge of the check. Two signature lines are displayed, along with a statement beneath the bottom signature line that reads: "TWO SIGNATURES REQUIRED FOR $10,000.00 OR MORE." Authentic checks are printed on light gray safeguard paper that will display void markings when photocopied.

A copy of a counterfeit item and a copy of 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:

Laurence Griffin
Assistant Vice President and Security Officer
United Commercial Bank
6711 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, California 94102
Telephone: (415) 929-6369
Fax: (415) 673-3209
E-mail: lgriffin@unitedcb.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)