When Kim Hall first opened up Bungalow Boutique in Louisburg, someone paid with a fake $100.
"My bank got a hold of me and told me that the $100 bill was counterfeit, so that was subtracted out of my account," said Hall.
Not only was she out $100 on her new business, but she says she felt taken advantage of.
She’s not alone. Recently there has been an uptick with businesses in Louisburg accidentally accepting phony cash, including Casey’s General Dollar Store.
Sgt. Dave Sander with the Louisburg Police Department gave tips on how to spot fake cash:
- Feel the money. Cash is made with a special fiber that feels different than paper.
- Look for a watermark. Hold the cash up to the light to see the watermark.
- There is a color-changing 20 in the bottom right-hand corner of the bill. Move it back and forth against the light and it should change colors if it’s real.
- Look for detail. The Federal Reserve takes a lot of time and effort to make money look authentic. A real bill should have more defined characteristics.
What to do if you find counterfeit money
- If you can, write down identifying information about the person who gave it to you, such as a physical description and/or their license plate number.
- Contact the police or a local branch of the Secret Service.
- Write your name and the date on the outside border of the bill.
- Place the counterfeit bill in an envelope or plastic bag to preserve any possible DNA or fingerprint evidence left by the counterfeiter.
- Physically hand the bill over to law enforcement or mail it to your local Secret Service field office.
The Treasury department reminds all citizens to keep themselves safe by not trying to engage a suspected counterfeiter on their own.
For more information on identifying counterfeit bills, check out the U.S. Currency Education Program.
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Ali Hoxie can be reached at ali.hoxie@kshb.com.
