Special Alert: SLS00306

Dear Associates:

This Bulletin is to advise you, in accordance with Stewart Information Services Corporation's (“SISCO”) Anti-Fraud Plan, that the FDIC has issued the above-referenced Special Alert Notices. In order to view these and other Special Alert Notices issued by the FDIC, please refer t...

First National Bank, Rancho Santa Fe, California, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit checks bearing the bank's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 122238938, which is assigned to First National Bank and is used for bill payment checks. The counterfeit items are dissimilar to authentic bill payment checks. The following statement is embedded in the top border on counterfeit items: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING. THE REVERSE SIDE INCLUDES AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK." Counterfeit items display a table with four columns that are labeled "REFERENCE NO.," "DATE," "CHECK NO.," and "AMOUNT." Additionally, a tracking code is included to the left of the table.

Authentic checks include "BILL PAYMENT CHECK" in block letters centered at the top. The bank's logo consisting of an eagle's head is displayed to the left of the bank's name in the top-left corner.

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic bill payment check (VOID) are attached for your review.

Any information you have concerning this matter should be brought to the attention of:

Doug Thompson
Senior Vice President Operations Administrator
First National Bank
3821 Calle Fortunada, Suite D
San Diego, California 92123
Telephone: (858) 522-5343
Fax: (858) 541-0741
Email: dothompson@banksandiego.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. Information 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/2006/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

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)

Global Commerce Bank, Doraville, Georgia, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit checks bearing the bank's name are in circulation. The counterfeit items are associated with a lottery scam and are accompanied by a sweepstakes notification letter that is purportedly from Consumers Choice Financial Trust Payment Service – Sweepstakes and Internet Games Payment Verification Centre. The letter claims to be either an "Award Claim Notification" or "Funds for Payment of Processing Fees" and it indicates that the recipient was selected from a pool of 75,000 names in the United States and Canada.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 061104848, which is assigned to Global Commerce Bank. Counterfeit items display the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" in the top-center portion, with the bank's name and logo in the top-left corner. The bank's name is repeated in the lower-left corner and is followed by an address and a toll-free telephone number, which is not associated with the bank. There is one printed line in the lower-right corner with the words "AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE" included below the line.

Authentic checks display the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" in the top-left corner. Centered at the top of the authentic checks are the bank's logo, name, kanji characters, "Best Service" printed in script lettering, and a P.O. Box mailing address. Lines are printed on the check next to "REMITTER," "DATE," "PAY," and "DOLLARS $." In the lower-right corner are two signature lines. A lock symbol is displayed near the right edge. To the left of the lock symbol is the statement, "The purchase of an Indemnity Bond will be required before any Cashier's Check of this bank will be replaced or refunded in the event it is lost, misplaced or stolen."

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic cashier's check (VOID) are attached for your review.

Any information you have concerning this matter should be brought to the attention of:

Joseph Tang
Security Officer
Global Commerce Bank
5150 Buford Highway, Suite B-130
Doraville, Georgia 30340
Telephone: (770) 457-1253
Fax: (770) 457-1360
Email: global_bank@bellsouth.net

To report this scam or any other scam based in or mailed from Canada, please contact Phonebusters, which is a joint partnership between the Ontario Provincial Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Phonebusters is interested in receiving copies of scam letters, particularly those involving Canadian mailing addresses or telephone numbers. Records relating to the payment of advance fees should also be forwarded to Phonebusters. This information is used to assist in the strategic targeting of would-be fraudsters. Scam letters should be forwarded to the Phonebusters National Call Center (PNCC) as follows:

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. Information 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/2006/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

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)