Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name United Republic Bank, Omaha, Nebraska, are reportedly in circulation

United Republic Bank, Omaha, Nebraska, 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 are reportedly associated with a secret shopper scam accompanied by correspondence from "Paid for Free Shopping Insite Inc."

The counterfeit items display the routing number 104014109, which is assigned to United Republic Bank. The items are markedly dissimilar to authentic cashier's checks. The counterfeit items display a security feature statement embedded within a darkened top border and between two security padlock icons along the bottom border. The words "CASHIER'S CHECK" appear in the top center. "Omaha, NE" and a telephone number ("1-866-469-8706"), which is not associated with the bank, are printed to the right of the bank's logo (flamed torch icon) and name in the top-left corner. A "NOTICE TO CUSTOMERS" regarding an indemnity bond is printed in the lower-left corner. The signature line is preceded by "PER."

Authentic checks have a faint gold horizontal striped background and a flamed torch icon watermark in the middle. The top border and logo are gold and red. The words "CASHIER'S CHECK" are vertically printed on the left side. The bank's logo and name are near the top-left corner and the word "REMITTER" in the lower-left corner.

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:

Operations Department
United Republic Bank
P.O. Box 540126
Omaha, Nebraska 68154
Telephone: (402) 505-8500
Fax: (402) 505-6929
E-mail: information@unitedrepublicbank.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