Topic: Counterfeit Bills - How To Catch Them.
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Apache Junction, AZ - USA
Joined: 10/15/2006
Posts: 285
Vette(s): 1982,150K,Renegade CFI,Hooker Side Pipes,85 fuel pump,Bilsteins,HD suspension, Aluminum radiator, SharkBar/w 5-Point Restraints. 3:73 gears coming soon.
There is a LOT of Counterfeit bills going around right now, more
than I have ever seen! so I thought I'd share some of my experience
with you all.
Do NOT rely on those so-called Counterfeit Bill Detector Pens either. I stopped using them in my stores 4 years ago because they do not always work, especially on a bleached out Five bill that has a fifty printed over it!
I am looking into the Ultraviolet lights to add to our detection abilities, but the average person does not carry one of these.
How to spot a counterfeit:
1) The Ink colors and tonal values are incorrect, especially the back.
2) The Shading in the buildings and trees have less or no detail.
3) The Paper almost always feels different - thick and cheap compared to the read stuff.
4) Raised Printing is absent - run your finger nail across Grant's (or whoever) suit jacket and you will feel and hear the raised printing under your nail.
5) The Sound - holding the bill with both hands, wrinkle and "pop" it; should have a clear, crisp higher frequency pop sound.
6) The Watermark with face or bill denomination is NOT a good indicator! I have seen very good quality $100 bills that were actually two sheets of very thin paper pasted together; on the inside they print the watermark and the strip...
7) The holographic markings also wear off - do not rely on them to judge if a bill is good or bad.
There is like 3 or 4 different styles of real USA currency in circulation right now, so it can be rather difficult to spot a bad one. Familiarize yourself with all the different styles and use the above info.
I have been training my cashiers with this info for years and we have had very few counterfeits get past us.
If you discover a counterfeit in your collection, call police and report it. Do NOT try to pass it off to another unsuspecting victim - it is a crime to knowingly pass a counterfeit! My cashiers are instructed to call police immediately and not return the bill to the customer. If the "customer" waits for police to arrive, then they are most likely not aware and not trying to commit a crime. In the last 7 years, we have had only 2 customers stick around for police - go figure!
"I got that $100 from an ATM" or "I just got that bill from my bank" is what they normally say, then they say they don't have the time to wait for police..... They may also mix the bill in with other bills in the hope you will not notice. If you are receiving a large number of bills, such as 15 - $1's or 15 - $100's; take the time to look at each and every single bill before the transaction is complete.
Do NOT accept any bills you are not sure of - even at the bank or at your local Chevron! Once you leave, it is YOUR problem.
The counterfeiter profile (From Our Experience):
1) White male
2) 30 to 40 yrs old
3) Tweeker/Crack head (80% of them)
4) Once the word "Counterfeit" is mentioned, ALL eye contact stops, it seems their feet become very interesting..... and they become very nervous and confrontational.
Please feel free to add any more detection info you may have.
Hope this helps!
Do NOT rely on those so-called Counterfeit Bill Detector Pens either. I stopped using them in my stores 4 years ago because they do not always work, especially on a bleached out Five bill that has a fifty printed over it!
I am looking into the Ultraviolet lights to add to our detection abilities, but the average person does not carry one of these.
How to spot a counterfeit:
1) The Ink colors and tonal values are incorrect, especially the back.
2) The Shading in the buildings and trees have less or no detail.
3) The Paper almost always feels different - thick and cheap compared to the read stuff.
4) Raised Printing is absent - run your finger nail across Grant's (or whoever) suit jacket and you will feel and hear the raised printing under your nail.
5) The Sound - holding the bill with both hands, wrinkle and "pop" it; should have a clear, crisp higher frequency pop sound.
6) The Watermark with face or bill denomination is NOT a good indicator! I have seen very good quality $100 bills that were actually two sheets of very thin paper pasted together; on the inside they print the watermark and the strip...
7) The holographic markings also wear off - do not rely on them to judge if a bill is good or bad.
There is like 3 or 4 different styles of real USA currency in circulation right now, so it can be rather difficult to spot a bad one. Familiarize yourself with all the different styles and use the above info.
I have been training my cashiers with this info for years and we have had very few counterfeits get past us.
If you discover a counterfeit in your collection, call police and report it. Do NOT try to pass it off to another unsuspecting victim - it is a crime to knowingly pass a counterfeit! My cashiers are instructed to call police immediately and not return the bill to the customer. If the "customer" waits for police to arrive, then they are most likely not aware and not trying to commit a crime. In the last 7 years, we have had only 2 customers stick around for police - go figure!
"I got that $100 from an ATM" or "I just got that bill from my bank" is what they normally say, then they say they don't have the time to wait for police..... They may also mix the bill in with other bills in the hope you will not notice. If you are receiving a large number of bills, such as 15 - $1's or 15 - $100's; take the time to look at each and every single bill before the transaction is complete.
Do NOT accept any bills you are not sure of - even at the bank or at your local Chevron! Once you leave, it is YOUR problem.
The counterfeiter profile (From Our Experience):
1) White male
2) 30 to 40 yrs old
3) Tweeker/Crack head (80% of them)
4) Once the word "Counterfeit" is mentioned, ALL eye contact stops, it seems their feet become very interesting..... and they become very nervous and confrontational.
Please feel free to add any more detection info you may have.
Hope this helps!
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Very informative......thanx!
corvette440hp
Thanks, very informative.... but its been a long time since I've had a $100 bill in my hands. More like 10's, 20's & sometimes 50's.

Larry
The difference between men and boys is the cost of their toys!!

Apache Junction, AZ - USA
Joined: 10/15/2006
Posts: 285
Vette(s): 1982,150K,Renegade CFI,Hooker Side Pipes,85 fuel pump,Bilsteins,HD suspension, Aluminum radiator, SharkBar/w 5-Point Restraints. 3:73 gears coming soon.
Hey, they are even counterfeiting $10's, $5's and EVEN $1 bills!!
If it looks and feels funny, probably is!
If it looks and feels funny, probably is!
I was gonna wisecrack about the white dude tweeker or crackhead but you beat me to it in your real description.
Around here there were alot of counterfeit twenties in circulation. It turned out to be a couple of college kids.
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