Counterfeit check security and bank closing alerts (5/26/2010)
Many of you are IT professionals, responsible for not only keeping your systems running, but also managing the security of your users. With phishing, spam, and and other scams on the rise, keeping users secure becomes more and more of a challenge.
Beyond computer-based security, banking scams are on the rise. I get FDIC Special Security Alerts each week from the FDIC about banking scams, in particular counterfeit check alerts.
Because of the damage that can be done from these banking scams, I thought it'd be helpful to keep you in the loop, and perhaps you help keep your users on the lookout. This week, I'm also listing a few bank closings reported by the FDIC.
Today's Alerts for counterfeit check scams
I got six (whoops, make that nine) alerts today. The following counterfeit items have been reported in circulation:
- Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name 1st United Bank, Faribault, Minnesota
- Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Farmers & Merchants Bank, Rudolph, Wisconsin
- Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Fidelity Bank, Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina
- Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name The Ohio State Bank, Marion, Ohio
- Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Town and Country Bank, Stephenville, Texas
- Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Valley Bank and Trust Co., Gering, Nebraska
- Counterfeit checks bearing the name Bank of Morton, Morton, Mississippi
- Counterfeit official checks bearing the name Rainier Pacific Bank, Tacoma, Washington
- Counterfeit personal money orders bearing the name Cecil Bank, Elkton, Maryland
Let's add in those three bank closings:
- Satilla Community Bank (CERT #35114), Saint Marys, GA
- New Liberty Bank (CERT #35586), Plymouth, MI
- Midwest Bank and Trust Company (CERT #18117), Elmwood Park, IL
All deposits, excluding certain brokered deposits, were transferred to the acquiring institution.
That's it for now. Here's a detailed series of tips that'll help protect you from check scams.
Hopefully, there won't be any more for a while.