Counterfeit money?

[DisneyJules]

Hello my American friends I have a questions. A couple came into the store I work in yesterday and I swear the bill they gave us was a fake. I didn't really look at it much while they were paying because we don't usually accept hundred dollar bills (it was US currency) and so I handed it off to my manager who accepted it. I opened my till later and it caught my eye because it didn't quite look right. The image wasn't completely crips like they usually are. I then looked very carefully around the trim of the bill and it was speckled, the same way your printer prints specks instead of streaks of ink. And the quality of the paper wasn't slippery. It looked pretty good but not quite right. Does this sound normal for you hundred dollar bills? There's really nothing we can do now but it's had me thinking since it happened.
Thanks

 

[Big V]

http://www.ustreas.gov/usss/money_detect.shtml

 

[DisneyJules]

Thanks Big V By looking at that site, I'm pretty positive it wasn't real. The speckles, the lack of crispness.

 

[Big V]

Sorry it's a fake. You should let someone know, so people can look out for them.

 

[lizdotcom99]

that when marked on a counterfit bill shows black...if on an authentic bill shows a yellowish color....I think you might be able to find thoe markers on ine...we use them all the time and have been very lucky to never have a mark show black!! But I have heard of others who have ....

 

[kazzie]

I work P/T in a foreign exchange in Thomas Cook in London.The main currency we deal in is $$$ (then Euros!)

We have to check the $$ carefully and refuse many fakes,these are always $100 bills and then $1 bills! The $1 bills don't make sense to me how can it be worth the effort! The best fakes are called 'son of sam' in the UK FE's

So I'm quite the expert on $$ bills for a Brit

 

[DisneyJules]

My manager checked it with a machine from a store across from us and it came back ok. But she said they're not 100% effective, and by looking at the bill I was very surprised it came back ok.

 

[momof2inPA]

The paper should have a an imbedded security strip. If it's a new bill, it will have a water mark, also.

 

[DisneyJules]

I didn't check for a watermark. I did compare it with an American $1 bill I had left over in my wallet from my last WDW trip and it didn't match up.

 

[LJC1861]

I work retail also and we have to check every large bill that comes into the store. In addition to the things that other posters have mentioned you can also look for the following.

1. Real bills are printed on paper that has tiny fabric threads in red and blue in it. Hold it up to the light and you shoul be able to see some.

2. Quickly run your finger along the clothing that the president is wearing. Real bills have tiny ridges on the clothing. That is the first test we were told to use. It can be done without the customer seeing it. If you don't feel the ridges do the other checks.

3. Larger bills have micro printing in the border around the president's portrait. Once you know what it is supposed to look like you can spot it relatively quickly.


Look over your bills carefully. If anything looks wrong don't be afraid to call a manager. It is better to have the customer wait a bit than to take in a counterfeit.

Linda

 

[Dana49]

Legitimate $100 bills have a security thread that runs the width of the bill and is to the left of the portrait. The security strip will read "USA 100". Counterfeits may have the strip but the writing will not be there.

 

[Littlehero'smommy]

I am a bank manager and we have to deal with this quite a bit unfortunately. With the new color copiers, there are so many good fakes out there. Why the government posts the new security features before a new bill design comes outs, is beyond me. It gives crooks more time to develope their counterfeit product.

You should be able to tear the bill slightly at the security strip and pull on the strip. The strip is a separate enity and made into the paper. Also, the red and blue fibers should be able to be removed by scrapping the bill or with tweezers.

If you suspect a counterfeit bill, you can take it to your local financial institution and they can send it in for you to prove its authenticity.

A word of caution for everyone, counterfeit checks are more abundant today than the bills. If you are not sure about a check, call the bank it is drawn on. Scam artists are making checks using one bank name, but a different banks ABA/Routing number. We have several customers who have taken counterfeit checks with on-line purchases and they are using the cashier's check design and wording.