Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name F&M Bank are reportedly in circulation

Special Alerts

SA-27-2011
October 6, 2011

TO: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (also of interest to Security Officer)SUBJECT: Counterfeit Cashier's Checks Summary: Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name F&M Bank are reportedly in circulation.

F&M Bank, Washington, Georgia, 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 061112830, which is assigned to F&M Bank. The items are blue, have rounded corners, and display a security feature statement embedded within a darkened top border. The bank's logo, name, and Web site address appear near the top-left corner of the counterfeit items.

Authentic cashier's checks are yellow and display a security padlock icon at the end of the written dollar amount line. The bank's logo, name, and Web site address are in the top-center area.

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:

Debra Guin
Compliance Officer
F & M Bank
P.O. Box 280
Washington, Georgia 30673
Telephone: (706) 678-2187
Fax: (706) 678-4908
E-mail: dguin@f-mwashington.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, 3501 North Fairfax Drive, CH-11034, Arlington, Virginia 22226, 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 Web site at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2011/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 Risk Management Supervision

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)