Penn Liberty Bank, Wayne, Pennsylvania, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit official checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation. The items are reportedly associated with a mystery shopper scam.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 031918844, which is assigned to Penn Liberty Bank, but are markedly dissimilar to authentic official checks. The counterfeit items display the following security feature statement embedded in the top border: "FOR SECURITY PURPOSES, THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING IN THE BORDER." The security statement "SECURITY FEATURES INCLUDED. DETAILS ON BACK" is shown along the bottom border between two padlocks. A shaded triangle, the bank's logo (city skyline in white silhouette on a dark half-circle background), name and street address are in the top-left corner. "Remitter:" appears below the written dollar amount line. The items have a "VOID" background when copied and one signature line.

Authentic official checks are blue with a marbled background and dark blue borders. The following security feature statement is embedded in the top border: "ORIGINAL DOCUMENT PRINTED ON CHEMICAL REACTIVE PAPER WITH MICROPRINTED BORDER." The security statement "THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS HEAT SENSITIVE INK. TOUCH OR PRESS HERE – RED IMAGE DISAPPEARS WITH HEAT" is embedded in the bottom border. A security padlock is shown between vertical security statements along the right border. The bank's name and logo appear as a watermark in the center. The statement "AMOUNTS OF $5,000 OR MORE REQUIRE TWO SIGNATURES" is shown above two signature lines. A heat-sensitive ink security feature is located in the bottom-right 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:

David K. Griest
Executive Vice President
Penn Liberty Bank
353 West Lancaster Avenue, Suite 300
Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087
Telephone: (610) 535-4550
Fax: (610) 254-0814
E-mail: dgriest@pennlibertybank.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. 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 website at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2008/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

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)