Counterfeit money orders in excess of $1,000 bearing the name of Franklin-based Benjamin Franklin Bank are currently in circulation, the bank reported.
Authentic money orders are not issued in amounts exceeding $1,000, which should be a merchant’s first indication of fraud, the bank said.
Officials from Benjamin Franklin have been in contact with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation regarding the fraudulent notes.
The bogus money orders display the routing number 211371052, which is the bank’s correct identification, but other aspects of the orders are fraudulent, including ornate borders, a security feature statement embedded within the top and bottom borders and a vertical rectangle in the lower-right corner.
The bank asks that any information regarding this matter be brought to the attention of Lisa Sax, the bank’s security officer.
