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Special Alerts

SA-149-2006
May 25, 2006


TO: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (also of interest to Security Officer)
SUBJECT: Counterfeit Official Checks
Summary: Counterfeit official checks bearing the name of East Cambridge Savings Bank, Cambridge, Massachusetts, are reportedly in circulation.

East Cambridge Savings Bank, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 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 211371120, which is assigned to Cambridge Savings Bank, Cambridge, Massachusetts. The counterfeit items are not similar to authentic checks. The items display a steeple logo and the institution’s name and address in the top-left corner. The words "OFFICIAL CHECK" appear inside a box in the top-center portion of the item. A statement describing security features is embedded within the top border.

Authentic checks display the routing number 211370419, which is assigned to East Cambridge Savings Bank, Cambridge, Massachusetts. The words "TREASURER CHECK" are printed in the top-center portion of the check. Authentic checks are printed on blue marbled paper.

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

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

John P. Mahoney
Vice President
East Cambridge Savings Bank
292 Cambridge Street
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02141
Phone: (617) 354-7700
Fax: (617) 551-2580
E-mail: jpmahoney@ecsb.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 Web site 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.

  Sandra L. Thompson
  Acting Director
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection

Attachment (not available electronically)

NOTE: As a security precaution, the FDIC does not post to its Web site online copies of fraudulent instruments or copies of the genuine instruments that have been counterfeited. This is to avoid attempts by others to use the electronic versions of these instruments to facilitate additional fraud. Printed copies of fraudulent instruments are mailed with the Special Alert letter to the financial institutions on the letter's distribution list (generally, FDIC-supervised banks – commercial and savings). Printed copies of the 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)


Last Updated 5/25/2006 communications@fdic.gov