State Bank of Park Rapids, Park Rapids, Minnesota, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit bank money orders bearing the institution's name are reportedly in circulation. The items are reportedly associated with a fraudulent employment scam.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 091202338, which is assigned to the State Bank of Park Rapids. The counterfeit items are nearly identical to the authentic bank money orders. However, the authentic money orders display the bank's telephone number below the logo in the lower-left corner. In addition, payee and remitter information are always typed on authentic money orders.

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic money order (VOID) are attached for your review. Be aware that the appearance of counterfeit items can be modified and that additional variations may be presented.

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

Darcey Fritze
Assistant Vice President of Operations
Telephone: (218) 732-3366, Extension 115
or
Ann Lempola
Cashier
Telephone: (218) 732-3366, Extension 119

State Bank of Park Rapids
200 East 1st Street
Park Rapids, Minnesota 56470
Fax: (218) 732-8829
E-mail: sbprinfo@statebankofparkrapids.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 electronic images of fraudulent items or authentic checks that have been counterfeited. This is to avoid attempts by others to use these instruments to facilitate additional fraud. Financial institutions can view images of the fraudulent items and authentic checks (marked as VOID) using the FDIC's free, secure Web site, FDICconnect. (See more information about FDICconnect at http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/financial/2006/fil06032.html.) Printed copies of each 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)