Counterfeit official checks bearing the name Community Bank, Pasadena, California, are reportedly in circulation

Community Bank, Pasadena, California, 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 122037171, which is assigned to Integrated Payment Systems, Inc., Englewood, Colorado. Community Bank issues official checks through an Integrated Payment Systems, Inc., account held at Wells Fargo Bank Ltd., Los Angeles, California. The items are similar to authentic official checks; however, the counterfeit items display a security feature statement embedded in a darkened top border and along the bottom border between two padlocks.

Authentic checks are gray and display the following security statement centered at the top of the check: "HOLD DOCUMENT UP TO THE LIGHT TO VERIFY TRUE WATERMARK." A padlock icon and security statement appear below "DOLLARS" on the right side

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:

Deborah Grant
First Vice President
Community Bank
1041 West Badillo Street, Suite 200
Covina, California 91722
Telephone: (626) 974-1214
Fax: (626) 974-1240
E-mail: dgrant@cbank.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/2009/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. ThompsonDirector
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection