Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association, New York City, New York, 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 102000979, which is assigned to JPMorgan Chase Bank. The items are dissimilar to authentic checks and display the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" in the upper-left corner. The savings and loan association's logo and name appear in the top center of the items.

Authentic checks display the words "OFFICIAL CHECK" in the top center. The association's logo, name, "Lake Success, New York, 11042" and the motto "Putting people first" appear in the upper-left corner. Authentic items are issued by Integrated Payment Systems, Inc., Englewood, Colorado, and are payable through JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., Denver, Colorado. Authentic items have ornate borders on both sides and along the top, and a security feature description is printed below the top border.

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic check (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:

Charles Judson, Director of Security AML
Compliance Officer
Astoria Federal Savings
One Astoria Federal Plaza
Lake Success, New York 11042-1085
Phone: (516) 327-7830
Fax: (516) 327-7481
E-mail: cjudson@astoriafederal.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 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)