Special Alerts
SA-11-2007
January 5, 2007


TO: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (also of interest to Security Officer)
SUBJECT: Counterfeit Cashier's Checks
Summary: cashier's checks bearing the name Watertown Savings Bank, Watertown, Massachusetts, are reportedly in circulation.

Watertown Savings Bank, Watertown, Massachusetts, 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 are reportedly associated with a Canadian lottery scam, whereby the recipient is notified of unclaimed prize money. The counterfeit items are supposedly sent to cover processing charges or to pay taxes on winnings.

Counterfeit items display the routing number 211370176, which is assigned to Watertown Savings Bank. Counterfeit items display the words "CASHIER'S CHECK" in the top-center portion of the item. However, Watertown Savings Bank issues treasurer's checks rather than cashier's checks. The bank's name, location and a telephone number that is not associated with the bank appear in the top-left corner of counterfeit items.

Authentic checks display the bank's name in the top-left corner. The wording "TREASURER'S CHECK" appears above the authorized signature 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:

Craig McKenna
Vice President – Security and Compliance
Watertown Savings Bank
60 Main Street
Watertown, Massachusetts 02472
Telephone: (617) 928-2311
Fax: (617) 249-1954
E-mail: cmckenna@watertownsavings.com

To report this scam or any other scam based in or mailed from Canada, please contact Phonebusters, which is a joint partnership between the Ontario Provincial Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Phonebusters is interested in receiving copies of scam letters, particularly those involving Canadian mailing addresses or telephone numbers. Records relating to the payment of advance fees should also be forwarded to Phonebusters. This information is used to assist in the strategic targeting of would-be fraudsters. Scam letters should be forwarded to the Phonebusters National Call Center (PNCC) as follows:

Mail: Box 686
North Bay, Ontario, Canada
P1B 8J8
Web site: www.phonebusters.com
Telephone: +1 (888) 495-8501 (toll-free in Canada and the USA)
Fax: +1 (888) 654-9426 (toll-free in Canada and the USA)
E-mail: info@phonebusters.com
Advance fee fraud (including Nigerian and lottery letters): wafl@phonebusters.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 website at http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/specia...007/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
Director


Attachment

Distribution: FDIC-Supervised Banks (Commercial and Savings)
Last Updated 1/5/2007

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