SA-4-2006
January 19, 2006


TO: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (also of interest to Security Officer)
SUBJECT: Counterfeit Cashier's Checks
Summary: Counterfeit cashier's checks drawn on Principal Bank, Des Moines, Iowa, are reportedly in circulation.

Principal Bank, Des Moines, Iowa, 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 073922623, which is assigned to Principal Bank, but are dissimilar to authentic items. The counterfeit checks have "Cashier's Check" printed on the top-left side and "Principal Bank" printed in the top center above the misspelled city name and a phone number. The counterfeit items' multicolored check stock is light blue fading to light pink. Authentic items bear the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" in the upper-left corner next to the bank's triangle logo and name. Also, the bank's hours, Web site address, phone number and address are located on the left side above "PAY TO THE ORDER OF." The word "MEMO" is located directly beneath. Authentic secure check stock is yellow, green, tan, or blue paper. Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic (voided) item are attached for your review.
Any information you have concerning this matter should be brought to the attention of:

William J. Hayen
Compliance & Operational Risk Officer
711 High Street, Mail Stop P 001 S 10
Des Moines, IA 50392-5380
Phone Number: (515) 883-9188
Fax Number: (515) 883-9158
Email: hayen.bill@principal.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 http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/Specia...006/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.
Christopher J. Spoth
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, 801 17th Street, NW, Room 100, Washington, DC 20434 (telephone: 1-877-275-3342 or 202-416-6940; fax: 202-416-2076; or e-mail: publicinfo@fdic.gov).

Distribution: FDIC-Supervised Banks (Commercial and Savings)

http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/Specia...6/sa06004.html

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It is not our practice or intentions to publish misleading information about legitimate companies. Our purpose and practice is to sound the ALARM. To warn potential victims of those who sit behind computers with the sole purpose of committing CRIMES.