News release from the Fort Wayne Police Department:
Beware of Holiday Counterfeiters
(December 5, 2014) – ‘Tis the season for counterfeiters and the Fort Wayne Police Department wants to remind both the retailers and citizens to be on the lookout for counterfeit currency. During the holiday season as many as 50% of shoppers will be using paper currency versus credit and/or debit cards.
Counterfeiters will try to take advantage of the large amounts of paper currency being passed and start circulating counterfeit notes. Inspect your paper currency to ensure that you are not being victimized.
Some recommended counterfeit detection tips for paper currency $5 notes and up:
- Hold the note up to light source to better see security thread and watermark.
- Place note under UV light. Security threads will glow a certain color on 1996 and later series notes depending on denomination:
$100: red/pink
$50: yellow
$20: green
$10: orange$5: blue- Compare to a genuine note.
- Check other notes passed for same serial numbers.
- Check the feel of the note.
Most counterfeit notes made in the U.S. are produced by ink jet printers that will leave tiny colored dots that can be seen under a magnifying glass. Ink jet print will usually run when wet.
Don’t let long lines at the checkout counter pressure you or your business into becoming a victim of counterfeiting, take the time to detect before you accept.
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