Counterfeit Treasurers Checks Bearing The Name Country Bank are Reportedly in Circulation

Country Bank for Savings (Country Bank), Ware, Massachusetts, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit treasurers checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation. The items are reportedly associated with a sweepstakes scam and accompanied by a letter purportedly sent by Financial Reliance Inc., Niagra Falls, New York. The word "Niagara" is misspelled on the letter.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 096016765, which is a payable-through account at U.S. Bank, Saint Paul, Minnesota. Country Bank for Savings issues treasurers checks through Moneygram Payment Systems, Inc., using an account at U.S. Bank. The counterfeit items are dissimilar to authentic treasurers checks and have a security feature statement embedded within the top border. The counterfeit items are blue and display a "VOID" background when copied.

Authentic treasurers checks have a hologram displayed in the top-left portion and are green. The numerical dollar amount is inside of a box.

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:

April Gay
Assistant Vice President and BSA Officer
Country Bank for Savings
75 Main Street
Ware, Massachusetts 01082
Telephone: 1-800-322-8233, extension 2102
Fax: (413) 967-0927
E-mail: Info@Countrybank.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. Questions 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/2007/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
Director
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection