Fake Bill for Services Funny Bill for Services
If your Ben Franklin is sticking his tongue out at you, it's not the newest art rendering from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
You've been scammed.
Spotting a counterfeit bill probably won't be that obvious, but knowing the difference between a genuine and a fake note will prevent unwanted funny money from finding its way into your wallet.
with bogus bills
Like a hot potato, if you're the last one holding it — you lose.
"Even if you innocently end up with counterfeit money and then knowingly try to pass it on, you've just committed a crime," said William Slavoski, resident agent in charge for the U.S. Secret Service of the Scranton Resident Office.
Unfortunately, there may not be a way to recoup your money; however, if you try to spend it, there can be serious legal consequences.
Follow your instincts and feel your money. Even with sophisticated computers and printers, you can usually feel a fake.
"Genuine currency is a very unique paper made from 75 percent cotton and 25 percent linen. You just can't buy it, and it is difficult for counterfeiters to replicate," Slavoski said.
Don't rely on counterfeit money markers to be accurate. "The marker used to detect counterfeit money is not endorsed by the Secret Service and only works 50 percent of the time," Slavoski said. "Some counterfeit money looks so bad my dog wouldn't accept it, but because the marker didn't change color, they've been accepted at the register."
A better device to use would be a handheld UV light to see the security thread or a magnifying loupe to look for the micro-printing.
According to the Secret Service, even though less than 1/100th of 1 percent of the value of all U.S. currency in circulation is reported counterfeit, educating the public to recognize fake money is critical.
This is especially important for retail stores.
"Our cashiers are trained to notice odd or suspicious bills that either have the same serial numbers or seem to be a fake, but when we are hit with counterfeit money, we get hit hard. Sometimes it's as often as three cases in a month," said Martin Rakaczewski, loss prevention manager for Target in Stroudsburg.
This funny money isn't fooling Rakaczewski, who is always on high alert.
"Counterfeiters come from as far as Baltimore passing through to New York on to Central America, but a lot of times we will catch them over time with the help of the Secret Service," he said.
While the chances of being victimized are low, "be cautious when taking money anywhere," said Donna Czerw, vice president/retail operations manager for First National Community Bank in Dunmore, which has a branch in Stroudsburg.
"Bank tellers are trained to detect a counterfeit bill and will catch them nine times out of 10, but once in a while, one will slip by," she said. "With over 21 branches in four counties, we could get one to two counterfeits a week. That is not a high percentage considering how many people are filtering through the bank every day."
"You're pretty much at a loss," Czerw said.
The tellers will confiscate it. No if, ands or buts.
"Once a suspicious bill is handed to a teller for deposit, they are not allowed to hand it back to that individual. Only after the Secret Service claims that it is genuine will it be returned to the customer," she said.
In the event you suspect the money you are given is counterfeit, the U.S. Secret Service advises that you:
FEATURES TO LOOK FOR Since 1996, several security features have been introduced to bank notes that help consumers recognize the authenticity of paper money. Other features can be found at www.moneyfactory.gov.
- Do not return it to the passer.
- Delay the passer if possible.
- Observe the passer's description, as well as that of any companions, and the license plate numbers of any vehicles used.
- Contact your local police department or U.S. Secret Service field office. The Scranton field office phone number is 570-346-5781.
- Write your initials and the date in the white border areas of the suspect note.
- Limit the handling of the note. Carefully place it in a protective covering, such as an envelope.
- Surrender the note or coin only to a properly identified police officer or a U.S. Secret Service special agent.
- The watermark: When holding a $100 bill up to a light, there is a faint image of Ben Franklin. The watermark is always the same as the engraved portrait. If it does not match the portrait, it is a fake.
- Embedded Security Thread: A different color security thread can be seen in all denominations except the $1 bill.
- Color-shifting ink: This ink is used on the numeral on the lower right corner of the front of the note. When tilting the note bank and forth, the ink shifts colors from green to black.
- Raised printing: Newer bills have raised printing that is difficult to replicate.
- Micro printing: The text is easily seen with a magnifying loupe. On a counterfeit, the print is blurred.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND FAKE MONEY
Source: https://www.poconorecord.com/story/lifestyle/2011/05/10/funny-money-how-to-spot/50057183007/
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