n recent months, both LaSalle and our customers have been targeted by a new -- and disturbing -- type of fraud.

The new scam involves individuals approaching tellers and asking for a blank deposit slip to replace the pre-encoded deposit slip they "forgot" to bring to the bank. They then deposit a bad check for a sizable amount into an unsuspecting LaSalle customer's account and ask for a large sum of cash back. These criminals most likely steal valid account numbers from discarded ATM or teller receipts. But, without seeing identification, tellers aren't aware that the supposed customer is actually a swindler asking for cash back on a bad check.

To alleviate this problem and protect you, LaSalle tellers are now asking for identification from anyone who requests a blank deposit slip when making a deposit. We hope that this protective measure will ensure that you and your accounts will not be subjected to any sort of fraudulent transaction.

By working together, we can deter this type of criminal activity. If you've run out of your pre-encoded personalized deposit slips, your LaSalle banker will be happy to order a supply for you. If you have questions or concerns, please stop by your nearest LaSalle branch and we'll be happy to discuss this fraud prevention solution with you.