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Special Alerts

SA-232-2006
August 18, 2006


TO: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (also of interest to Security Officer)
SUBJECT: Counterfeit Money Orders
Summary: Counterfeit money orders bearing the name Apple Bank for Savings, New York, New York, are reportedly in circulation.

Apple Bank for Savings, Manhasset, New York, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit money orders bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the appropriate routing number 102000979, which is assigned to JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. Apple Bank for Savings issues money orders through Integrated Payment Systems, Inc., Englewood, Colorado, payable through JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. The counterfeit items are similar to authentic money orders. The counterfeit items display a telephone number, not associated with the bank, in the lower-left corner. The statement "NOT GOOD FOR AMOUNT OVER FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS" is printed above and on the right side of the "Pay to the Order of" line. That statement is also directly below the "Pay $" area. A small padlock symbol is printed along the right border of the counterfeit items.

Apple Bank for Savings issues two types of authentic money orders. All authentic money orders display the statement "NOT GOOD FOR AMOUNT OVER ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,000)" centered on the right side. Authentic money orders are light green with a large apple-shaped watermark in the center.

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

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

Joseph Zayas
Assistant Treasurer
Assistant Security Officer
122 East 42nd Street 9th Floor
New York, New York 10168
Telephone: (212) 224-6465
Fax: (212) 224-6599
E-mail: JZAYAS@APPLE-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.

Sandra L. Thompson
Acting Director
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection

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)




Last Updated 8/18/2006 communications@fdic.gov

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