Reported cases of counterfeit cash are on the rise in Douglas.

The fake money is giving merchants a big headache at the register. Police say the problem is getting worse.

In 2005, Douglas police took 52 reports of counterfeit money. Then in 2006, the number of cases went up to 61. So far, 44 counterfeit cases have been reported this year. Police expect that number to increase dramatically by the end of December.

Olga Salazar is manager of the Border Mart convenience store in Douglas. They’ve had their share of counterfeit cash in the past, but they’re cracking down.

Salazar says, “I think that a lot of customers are aware that we use a counterfeit pen. Every bill, especially the 20’s because they have been coming in as counterfeit. We mark them on both sides. If it marks black, that’s a sign that it’s not good.”

Officer Marcus Gonzalez says, “We believe most of this money is being counterfeit in Mexico and brought across the border.”

Police are trying to find a solution.

“We’re currently in the process of coordinating with the secret service for them to conduct a presentation for local businesses and merchants.

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One local convenience store is on the lookout after counterfeit money ended up in its cash registered. The Shell gas station in downtown Green Bay was hit with two fake $20 bills in one week.

“I actually got one of the counterfeit 20s,” cashier Jessica Jicha admitted.

Jicha didn’t know it was fake until the bank wouldn’t accept it. “It’s a horrible feeling. Now you’re out $20, and you know, you don’t want to be that responsible party that let it happen,” she said.

Jicha said she’s always been careful when it comes to bigger bills, using a counterfeit-detecting pen to make sure they’re real. On real bills the ink is yellow; on fake bills it turns dark brown.

“We’re used to marking 50s and 100s. Getting used to marking 20s is kind of a difficult thing because there is so much fast cash flow,” Jicha said. She said she also checks for the different texture of the paper.

Green Bay police say all businesses need to be on the lookout, especially as we get closer to the holiday season when counterfeit activity typically spikes. Captain Karl Fleury added that smaller denominations of fake bills are becoming more common.

“Fifties, hundreds, the store clerks are trained to look at this bills closer. Twenties, kind of an everyday transaction. They need to be guarded with it as much as possible when they’re taking money, handling money,” Fleury said.

Fleury said businesses take the loss on fake bills but eventually we all pay for it.

“They’re in it to make a living also,” Fleury said of the businesses, “and the thing is, if they keep getting hit by this, they’ll pass the cost on to the consumer, and we all are consumers. So all of us are paying for this. So we should be concerned about this type of behavior.”

Employees at the Shell station want counterfeiters to know they’re checking.

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It’s happening again, they’re out there, they’re circulating, so we just have to be careful,”

At one time, a counterfeiter needed certain skills to produce a phony but genuine-looking $20 bill.

Now, it only takes a high-end computer printer and a few minutes.

The changing technology, police said, allowed two college roommates, still teenagers, to print off a few fake $20s and exchange them for real cash at four hotels on Peach Street near Interstate 90 on Sept. 13.

On Sept. 28, police said, a group of still-unidentified suspects paid for $400 worth of merchandise with counterfeit bills they passed at Lowe’s on Keystone Drive. Police said a woman on Sept. 28 also left counterfeit $20 bills behind at the nearby Wal-Mart.

The local cases show counterfeit money still is in circulation, despite the recent changes to currency designed to make fake bills easier to spot. Continue Reading »

“He said he was standing there watching and it turned blacker than hell,” Laws said. “He immediately called me and asked where I got it, and I told him the only place I get $100 bills if from my bank.”

“…with the upcoming Christmas shopping season approaching, she said bank employees already have met to discuss watching out for an increase in fake cash.”

“A lot of counterfeit money is being passed in flea markets and yard sales,” Clark said. “Most people are not afraid to try those because most people don’t have one of those pens. But it happens everywhere. It slides through. You can get it from banks, you can get it from fast food places, you can get it anywhere.”

“Houck also recommended investing in a counterfeit detection pen.”
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From the Bank of Canada website:

When verifying the UV feature, always check other security features too.
Look at the note under UV (ultraviolet) light. The coat of arms, and the words FIVE CINQ and BANK OF CANADA BANQUE DU CANADA glow in blue over the portrait. Red fibres are scattered across both sides of the note.

Bloomington, Ind. - Counterfeit money is being passed off as the real thing at Indiana University.

University police say two suspects paid for food in the student union with fake 50 dollar bills.

Police say the man and the woman are about college age, but they don’t think they are I.U. students.

Sugar and Spice employee Delaiah Dupree has to mark every 20 and 50 dollar bill with a special marker that’s designed to detect counterfeit cash.
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Know Your Money!!
During the American Civil War, one-third to one-half of the nation’s currency in circulation was fake. By 1865, the necessity of enforcement measures to suppress the widespread forgery led to the establishment of the famous United States Secret Service, which today, through Title 18 of U.S. Code, Section 3056, still holds exclusive jurisdiction for cases involving the counterfeiting of U.S. “obligations and securities”. These include U.S. currency (paper money and coins), U.S. Treasury checks, Department of Agriculture food coupons and U.S. postage stamps. Continue Reading »