Apollo Trust Company, Apollo, Pennsylvania, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit treasurer's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation. The items are reportedly associated with a lottery scam.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 043308426, which is assigned to Apollo Trust Company. The counterfeit items are similar to authentic treasurer's checks; however, they have dark borders and a security feature statement is displayed within the top border. An incorrect zip code ("1683") is used in the bank's address in the top-left corner. The items display a "VOID" background when copied.

Authentic checks have the correct zip code ("15613") in the bank's address in the top-left corner. Also, the word "REMITTER" appears in the lower-left corner below "TREASURER'S CHECK."

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:

Carolyn Bash
Assistant Treasurer
Apollo Trust Company
201 North Warren Avenue
Apollo, Pennsylvania 15613
Telephone: (724) 478-3151, extension 231
Fax: (724) 478-1118
E-mail: Carolyn@apollotrust.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/2007/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).

Parkvale Savings Bank (known as Parkvale Bank), Monroeville, Pennsylvania, 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 243073852, which is assigned to Parkvale Savings Bank, but are markedly dissimilar to authentic treasurer's checks. The counterfeit items have ornate borders on three sides. They items also display the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" inside a rectangle with rounded corners centered within the top border. The following security statement appears on each side of the rectangle: "HOLD THIS DOCUMENT UP TO THE LIGHT TO VIEW TRUE WATERMARK." The bank's name and address appear in the top-left corner. The bank's name is repeated above the signature line. A "MEMO" line is printed in the lower-left corner.

Parkvale Savings Bank issues treasurer's checks, rather than cashier's checks. Authentic checks display "TREASURER'S CHECK" in the top right. "Parkvale Bank" and "ALIQUIPPA OFFICE" appear in the top-left corner. "MONROEVILLE, PA" is printed below the dollar amount line.

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:

Margaret L. Ocepek
Security Officer
Parkvale Bank
4220 William Penn Highway
Monroeville, Pennsylvania 15146
Telephone: (412) 373-4821
Fax: (412) 856-7104
E-mail: margaret.ocepek@parkvale.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/2007/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).