Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Peoples Bank are reportedly in circulation

Special Alerts

SA-34-2011
November 15, 2011

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

Peoples Bank SB, Munster, Indiana, 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 011007092, which is assigned to The Bank of New York Mellon, Everett, Massachusetts. Peoples Bank SB issues its cashier's checks through MoneyGram Payment Systems, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota, using an account at The Bank of New York Mellon.

The counterfeit items display a security feature statement embedded in a darkened top border and along the bottom border between two padlock icons. The word "Remitter" is displayed in the lower-left corner.

Authentic checks are gray and display a security feature statement below the top border. "PAYABLE THROUGH THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, EVERETT, MA" is displayed 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:

Michael Shimala
Compliance and Security Officer
Peoples Bank SB
9204 Columbia Avenue
Munster, Indiana 46321
Telephone: (219) 853-7560
Fax: (219) 836-4409
E-mail: mshimala@ibankpeoples.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)