Counterfeit check security alert (5/3/2010)

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.

Today's Alerts for counterfeit check scams

I got eight alerts today. The following counterfeit items have been reported in circulation:

• Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Pinnacle Bank, Greenville, South Carolina
• Counterfeit official checks bearing the name Pacific Crest Savings Bank, Lynnwood, Washington
• Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name First Security Bank and Trust Company, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Liberty National (Ada, Ohio)
• Counterfeit checks bearing the name Keesler Federal Credit Union, Biloxi, Mississippi
• Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name West Plains Bank, West Plains, Missouri
• Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name The Bank of Hindman Inc., Hindman, Kentucky
• Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Central Bank, Savannah, Tennessee

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 this week.