Alert 2005-31 | December 14, 2005

Counterfeit Cashier's Checks: Counterfeit Cashier’s Checks of CenterBank of Jacksonville, N.A., Jacksonville, FL

To

Chief Executive Officers of All National Banks; All State Banking Authorities; Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; Director, Office of Thrift Supervision; Conference of State Bank Supervisors; Deputy Comptrollers (districts); Assistant Deputy Comptrollers; District Counsel; and All Examining Personnel

The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit cashier’s checks issued in the bank’s name and using a correct payable through routing number of 096016765 are being presented for the payment of Internet purchases of merchandise.

The counterfeit checks may be identified by the following: a standard check stock that is of unknown color with a cross-stitch patterned border. The bank’s logo and name appear in the upper-left corner of the check; the words “CASHIER’S CHECK” appear below the check number in the upper-right corner, and the statement “PAYABLE THRU FIRSTAR BANK OF MINNESOTA, N.A., ST. PAUL, MN” appears in the lower-left portion. The checks may contain a fictitious facsimile Authorized Signature of Thomas W. Carey. The reverse side of the check includes an endorsement area as well as a box containing security feature information.

Authentic cashier’s checks issued by the bank are powder blue in color with a cloud-like background and a black border. The following statement appears along the top portion of the check: “THIS DOCUMENT HAS AN ARTIFICIAL WATERMARK PRINTED ON THE BACK. THE FRONT OF THE DOCUMENT HAS A MICRO-PRINT SIGNATURE LINE. ABSENCE OF THESE FEATURES WILL INDICATE A COPY.” The bank’s logo and name appear in the upper-left corner of the instrument, the words “CASHIER’S CHECK” appear below the check number in the upper-right corner, and the statement “PAYABLE THRU US BANK, ST. PAUL, MN” appears in the lower-left portion. The reverse side of the check includes only a watermark.

You can verify the authenticity of CenterBank of Jacksonville, N.A.’s cashier’s checks by contacting Janice B. Dixon, Bank Security Officer, at 1325 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32207, by telephone at (904) 421-3712, by fax at (904) 421-5682 or via email at [jdixon@centerbankjax.com].

Additional information concerning this matter that you believe should be brought to the attention of the OCC may be forwarded to:

Email:	occalertresponses@occ.treas.gov
Mail:	Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Enforcement & Compliance Division, MS 8-10 250 E Street, SW, Washington, DC 20219
Fax:	(202) 874-5301
Internet:	https://www.occ.gov

Brian C. McCormally
Director for Enforcement & Compliance

Topic(s):

Counterfeit/Stolen Instruments