Counterfeit official checks bearing the name Union Credit Bank, Miami, Florida, are reportedly in circulation

Union Credit Bank, Miami, Florida, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit official checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 066015084, which is assigned to Union Credit Bank. Union Credit Bank does not issue official checks; however, it does issue cashier's checks. The counterfeit items display the words "OFFICIAL CHECK" and a "NOTICE TO CUSTOMERS" in the lower-left corner. A security feature statement is embedded in a darkened top border and along the bottom border between two padlocks. The statement "THE AMOUNT IN NUMBER MUST MATCH THE AMOUNT IN WORDS" is repeated as background in the written dollar amount section. The bank's logo, name and address are in the top-left corner.

Authentic cashier's checks graduate from pale green to beige in color and display the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" in the lower-left corner. An indemnity bond statement is in the top-left corner, and the bank's logo, name and address are top-centered. A security feature statement is below the written dollar amount line, which has a security padlock and statement to the right of the word "DOLLARS."

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:

Julio R. Martinez
Chief Financial Officer
Union Credit Bank
1150 South Miami Avenue
Miami, Florida 33130
Telephone: (305) 398-9085
Fax: (305) 372-0246
E-mail: jmartinez@ucbmiami.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-3054, 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