The Price City Police Department is warning local businesses and citizens that it looks like the community is experiencing another round of counterfeit money circulation. When accepting cash bills, please be alert to irregularities with the money you are accepting.
“Lately, we have been seeing $100 and $20 bills turning up, but any denomination can be forged,” Capt. Bill Barnes stated in a press release.
He added that financial institutions are obligated to intercept and not accept any counterfeit bills a depositer turns in. Institutions have sophisticated detection equipment now, and counterfeit bills will be confiscated. This will negatively impact records of deposits.
Here are a few of things to look for and notice: does the money feel right (very smooth feeling bills are likely fake), does it look right, when held up to the light are you able to see the security stripe, does it pass the “pen” test (a legitimate bill will show a very faint light yellow color, whereas a counterfeit bill will show a dark brown color)? (Do not trust a pre-marked bill – mark the pen yourself to test it, because a thief could use a colored pen to pre-mark the bill, lulling you into believing it is legitimate.)
In the accompanying photos, notice that the two pictured $20 bills have the same serial number. This should alert you that they are fake.
Notice the $100 bill (several of these have been passed and accepted at local businesses) – it says printed right on the bill “Motion Picture Use Only”. This bill is fake.
If you receive counterfeit money, please contact your local law enforcement agency and report it.
Counterfeit bills appear to be circulating again
Two $20 bills with the same serial number.