Anyone can receive counterfeit money no matter where they are. You can go to the bank and get that one $100 bill that was not checked when it was received by the bank. You then go to the grocery store and pay with that $100 bill when the cashier checks it was a special pen that indicates the bill is counterfeit. The cashier is silent and goes to her manager to show them the bill. All the while, you are standing at the checkout confused as to what is going on until the manager comes back to tell you that they must confiscate the $100 bill because it is counterfeit. They have already notified the authorities so the situation can be investigated. Now you are stuck with a cart full of groceries and you must wait for the police in order to tell them how you received the bill.

This is a situation that may be somewhat unusual, but some have experienced. They have been at no fault regarding the possession of a counterfeit bill because, if not checked properly, they can be distributed by banks, stores, and other venues in which money changes hands.

But what if you were on vacation and this happened? First of all, you’re not from the area and you just handed off a counterfeit bill. That makes you look quite suspicious and, unfortunately, can get you into serious trouble and ruin your entire vacation. That is why it is important to take certain precautions.

Precautions to take

One can never be too careful when traveling with cash. If at all possible, one might prefer to use traveler’s cheques or use a debit card or credit card. These items can be reported if missing, whereas cash cannot be replaced. Traveler’s cheques can be replaced if missing so your trip isn’t completely ruined. However, if you must carry cash, there are ways to protect yourself against receiving counterfeit money.

Depending on where you are in the world is going to determine what tools you need, but using items such as:

• A counterfeit pen detector can keep you receiving a counterfeit bill. Simply keep one in your purse or pocket to immediately mark the bill. The mark should show up clear if the bill is real and the mark will show up as dark if it is counterfeit. Although many retailers use these pens, cashiers can get into a huge hurry and forget to mark them.

• UV detectors can also protect you. These devices can come as pens or key chains that you can shine on the bill to make sure the security thread is inside the bill and that the denomination of the bill is printed on it. UV devices that work on U.S. bills also work on Canadian bills. When shined on a Canadian bill, the coat of arms along with the words FIVE CINQ and BANK OF CANADA BANQUE DU CANADA appear over the portrait in blue. The UV light will also pick up the red fibers on the bill.

It is also good to know about the different types of security used on the printing of bills even if you are visiting a foreign country and cannot find a counterfeit detection device for that particular currency. By doing this, you can immediately spot a counterfeit bill and call the authorities or return it as soon as you receive it and let them know that it is counterfeit. This can keep you out of trouble for circulating counterfeit money, especially when you are away from home and trying to enjoy yourself. This can also prevent the money from ending up in someone else’s hands.

There are many instances in which a cash box is needed. In fact, any time that a large amount of money is changing hands; a cash box is a great thing to have. A cash box is nothing like a cash register because it is simply a fire resistant box that money and other valuable items can be placed in. Even if there is a safe in the business, a cash box comes in handy for a number of reasons.

Businesses that should use a cash box

Businesses that should definitely use a cash box are those that deal in items such as jewelry, cars, antiques, or they do some sort of check cashing service. Even if these stores have a safe, it is important to have a cash box standing by. For example: the jewelry store sells a $2,000 necklace. The manager is not going to want to keep that much money in the cash register. In fact, the manager may choose to put it in the safe, but if they are robbed that is the first place the robber is going to want the manager to go.

What the manager can do is place the money in a cash box and keep it in a place where only he or she knows where it is. Many businesses find it beneficial to hide money throughout a locked office and keep very little money in the safe. By keeping the cash box locked and in a safe place, the jewelry store manager can keep very little money in the safe in case a robbery does occur. The same goes for car dealerships taking large cash payments. They may not choose to keep large amounts of money in their safe.

As for the check cashing business, it is only good to keep a certain amount of money in the cash drawer. Check cashing businesses are prime targets for thieves because they know there is possibly a large amount of money. They tend to target these businesses earlier in the day when they have more cash and fewer checks. That is why the check cashing business should keep so much cash in a cash box and so much in the cash register. If they need more money in the cash register, then they can simply transfer some money from the box to the register to continue cashing checks throughout the day.

Other instances a cash box may be needed

Some businesses choose to keep a petty cash box. This is a box that can only be accessed by certain people. It is usually locked and contains cash that can be used for petty cash-approved purposes only. This is a great way to control spending within a business and the money is safe where very few people know where to find it and very few even have a key to access it.

Cash box versatility

As you can see, there are several ways a cash box can be used within a business. As for what businesses should not use a cash box, there aren’t any. Every business should utilize a cash box in some way for their protection. However, if you are a business owner and you do not see a need for a cash box, just make sure that you are not handling large amounts of money that could become bait for robbers. If they know that you are handling large sums, you could be their next target. So make the small investment of getting a cash box and protect your interests. It’s always better to be safe.

Counterfeit money actually has a very long history, which means the concept is not really all that new. Currency has been around for a long time and with currency comes greed. They say that money is the root of all evil and counterfeiting is definitely not an exception. It involves creating artificial money for financial gain and deceives others in making them believe that it is real. It contributes to inflation that hurts the pocket books of people all over the world, it damages economies, and it hurts the reputations of the central banks of countries that are innocent because they are not the ones creating the fake cash. That is why governments impose harsh penalties against those caught making fake money.

But exactly how long has counterfeiting money been around? Well, it is true to say that it has been around about as long as money has been around. But how long has legitimate money been around? Well, it has been around approximately 2,700 years. Before that, our ancestors were trading sheep and cattle to get what they needed. They worked to acquire the things they had, but money was not their compensation. Their compensation was things needed in everyday living. The introduction of money changed everything, including how honestly some people made their living. Money became the way in which people acquired things, therefore things such as poverty worsened.

History

It was approximately 700 B.C. that real currency made its debut in the form of coins. It was within a hundred years of coins being introduced as currency that counterfeiting began. With it, the punishments began as well. Many cultures imposed death upon those caught counterfeiting coins. The practice wasn’t very difficult since the fake coins could very easily be made of metals that held no value, but looked like the real thing.

But it was in 1650 A.D. that paper money was developed and counterfeiting flourished, especially within America where counterfeit money was more common than genuine money. Counterfeiters had become so skilled that when the first federal coins were issued by the U.S. government in the 1780’s, they had the dies cut by an ex-counterfeiter in order to deter the practice, but it was during the Civil War that counterfeiting flourished once more because the United States government issued paper money for the first time.

As a result of this counterfeiting, the Secret Service was developed just to enforce the counterfeiting laws. Their job was to find the counterfeiters before the money ever made it into the money supply. Eventually, the Secret Service’s operations expanded to include the protection of the president, which is on a completely different spectrum from deterring counterfeiting, which was an operation conducted by the Treasury.

However, it was the late twentieth century that brought about machinery such as color copiers and other counterfeit detection devices that made counterfeiting easier. It is estimated that nearly $10 billion in counterfeit bills were circulated between 1990 and 1995. That is why the United States began making changes to their bills in 1996, beginning with the $100 bill. The United States Treasury believes that the new designs on the bills make counterfeiting almost impossible, but with each change it is just a matter of time before counterfeiters find new ways to duplicate the bills.

That is why the governments all over the world are imposing harsher penalties such as 15 years in prison on top of fines and restitution for the damage caused. They have also developed advanced methods to track down those creating counterfeit bills. In the end, the counterfeiters must know that they will get caught.

On Tuesday night Two men were arrested after a McDonald’s employee tipped off the police. These two men were making and distributing counterfeit money. Reports of counterfeit money are only getting worse and it’s highly advisable you get yourself a counterfeit pen before you run into counterfeit money.

ktrv

Boise, Idaho — Two men have been arrested for making and distributing counterfeit money.

Boise police say the two men have been passing fake 20-dollar bills over several days.

Tuesday night, they arrested Zane Dees and Scott Vance and charged them with felony forgery.

It happened when a McDonald’s employee at Overland and Cole roads recognized a fake 20-dollar bill and called authorities.

Dees and Vance were still at the restaurant when police arrived, and eventually confessed to detectives they have been passing several counterfeit 20-dollar bills.

“During the course of the investigation these two subjects both 18 years old, both individuals had been the last few days in both making counterfeit money and passing it at numerous locations across the valley”, said Boise Police Detective Wade Spain.

Police are asking other businesses to call them if they find a suspicious 20-dollar bill.

Dees and Vance were both arraigned Wednesday afternoon in Ada County.

Receiving counterfeit money while in a foreign country is something that is not expected when traveling abroad. In fact, no one thinks to look up what to do when in a foreign country in case a counterfeit bill is received. It is definitely not out of the question that when money changes hands in a foreign country, especially with tourists, that a counterfeit bill may be involved. If caught circulating this bill, you could be in serious trouble with the authorities of that country, which not only ruins the trip, but goes a lot deeper than that.

Circulating counterfeit money is a very severe offense in the countries around the world. The reason why the crime is so severe is because counterfeiting poses a threat to the economy of that particular country. It results in financial loss for the citizens and has a harmful effect on the functioning of that country’s central bank and its reputation. When caught, offenders serve prison time. It depends on the country how much prison time is issued, but it is in your best interest to protect yourself in every way possible from becoming the latest victim of a counterfeiter. Even when circulating money with the best intentions, it is always good to know what is in your pocket.

Precautions

There are devices that can detect counterfeit currency in some countries. The internet contains wonderful information on how to obtain counterfeit pen detectors, ultraviolet lights, and other devices that can be used to detect a counterfeit bill. If the country you’re going to does not have devices that you can acquire, then learn as much as you can about the currency and its security features. There are such things as grains, swirls, watermarks, fibers and other elements that are placed upon currency in order to set it apart from that which is not real. These security features are difficult for counterfeiters to duplicate, so it is good to know what they are.

What to do if you receive a counterfeit bill

First of all, when receiving money after a transaction, be sure to look at it closely. Don’t worry what the cashier will think of you because you may be thankful you did this later on. If you are not sure a bill is counterfeit, but it look suspicious, ask the cashier to give you another one and explain your suspicions so that they can put the bill to the side to avoid circulation. If they have tools to check the validity of the bill, ask them to do so if it does not appear there are any marks on the bill from prior checks.

If it is determined that the bill is counterfeit from your own device, the device of the cashier, or from visual verification, ask that the cashier call the authorities so that the bill can be turned over to them and the situation investigated. If you are going to ask the store clerk to call the authorities, and the store clerk verifies that you received the bill from their till, you will not be in trouble and can enjoy your vacation. This prevents you or anyone else from circulating the bill any further throughout the country. This can also keep a lot of people out of trouble and also saves the economy of that country a lot of money.

What it comes down to is being vigilant and knowing what to look for. In educating yourself about the currency of a foreign country as well as scams that target tourists, you can enjoy your vacation without the worries of someone trying to make you take the fall for their illegal actions.

The workers in Arkansas understand why its essential to have a counterfeit pen. One night club owner had stacks of $100 bills that were counterfeit that had to come out of his own pocket and could have been avoided if he had a counterfeit detector. The workers at Valero gas station are also reporting counterfeit bills and keep a counterfeit pen by the register to avoid ending up with funny money.

http://www.todaysthv.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=62061

Gas stations and other businesses should watch carefully because the money they accept may be worthless.

Every bill taken at the Valero gas station on Kanis and Rodney Parham is marked with a counterfeit detection pen because they’ve received funny money.

“We did the same thing,” say Steve Side who once owned a night club, so he understands. “We mostly got hundreds dollar bills,” he continues. “You get some of them that were really good. And some of them were really bad.”

Over time, Sides says the phony money continued to accumulate. “I had a stack of those hundred dollar bills probably five or six inches high that I had to turn over to the Secret Service. And those were hundred dollar bills and that’s just money out of my pocket.”

Brian Mar with the Secret Service says there’s always been counterfeit bills in circulation, but with the rise in food and gas prices, places like the Valero that deal with high volumes of cash, are susceptible to the counterfeiters. “Some of this currency is seized prior to being passed to the public and some of this currency is passed to the public,” Mar says. “What you see here is currency that has been passed to the public.”

It’s thousands and thousands of dollars that’s not worth the paper it’s printed on. But Mars says there are ways to protect yourself from being defrauded. “Genuine currency and counterfeit currency is very easy to tell apart if you’ll just take the time to look at it,” he explains. “There’s red and blue security fibers woven into the note itself in genuine currency.”

Mar says your eyes are the best counterfeit detector. “If you’re using the detection pen, go ahead and use it. But I would also make sure that I go ahead and check it against a genuine note.”

Or you can take the fake and lose like Steve Sides once did. “It’s just paper,” he says. “It’s not any good for anything.”

If you come across some of this counterfeit currency, Agent Mar says you should contact your police department for quickest response.

Worldwide, he says $765 billion in U.S. currency is in circulation and more than $100,000 of counterfeit cash has been identified in Arkansas.

Stories like this show why it’s important to have a counterfeit detector. This guy used his computer to make 80 $100 bills and nearly 400 $10 bills and went around local stores in Hartford to buy small items and get change in real money.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/connecticut/ny-bc-ct–counterfeitcharge0303mar03,0,3875952.story

  HARTFORD, Conn. - A Windsor man has been sentenced to nine months in prison for making counterfeit money.

Dwight Benjamin pleaded guilty in June to one count of manufacturing counterfeit obligations, a federal crime. The 24-year-old has already served 13 months in prison on state forgery charges, so he won’t have to serve any more time on the federal charges.

U.S. Attorney Kevin O’Connor says that between April 2004 and February 2005, Benjamin used his computer to make 80 $100 bills and nearly 400 $10 bills. He used them at stores around Hartford to buy small items and get change in real money.

Whether you’re in a business or selling cookies for a good cause you always have to watch out for counterfeit bills. In this story girl scouts raising money came across a fake $10 bill.

LIBERTY TWP. — An afternoon of selling cookies at the Yankee Road Kroger was profitable for Troop 45897, minus a fake $10 bill that someone used to purchase a box of treats.

“It’s disappointing,” said Twyla Ens, the troop cookie mom who discovered the counterfeit bill. “It’s for such a good cause.”

Mothers and about 11 girls sold cookies from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23. The scouts handled the money themselves, making change with a smile. Ens said when she returned home to count the cash, totaling about $150, she knew right away when she touched the bill that it was fake.

“It was a little bit smaller and it just didn’t feel right,” she said. “But you know if it had just been one bill in my wallet, I might not have noticed it. But because I was handling a lot of money, I could tell.”

The “maker” of the bill had taken the time to “tape it up and make it look beat up,” she said.

Ens called the Butler County Sheriff’s Office and a deputy came to her Lynch Lane residence right away. He confirmed her suspicions, the bill was counterfeit.

Sgt. Monte Mayer, spokesman for the sheriff’s office, said the fake bill has been turned over to the Secret Service.

“It remains under investigation,” Mayer said.

Ens said detectives told her the person who passed the funny money may also be a victim.

“They may have gotten it in change some where and didn’t even realize it,” she said.

There hasn’t been a meeting since the incident, so the scouts are not yet aware of they were victims.

“Maybe we are going to have to teach our girls how to spot counterfeit money,” Ens said with a laugh.

Future fund-raising money might go to the purchase of a marker commonly used in stores to check for fake money.