05-28-2009, 07:08 PM
Some Retailers Finding Counterfeit Bills
Secret Service Says Technology Means Higher Quality Fakes, May 21, 2009
MADISON, Wis. -- Some retailers are reporting seeing some unusually high-quality fake bills lately, and that doesn't come as a surprise the U.S. Secret Service.
The Secret Service investigates counterfeit money. In just one 10-month period ending in August of last year, the Secret Service took more than $100 million of counterfeit cash out of circulation.
Authorities are continuing to see counterfeit money in Madison, and that has some area retailers keeping a closer eye on the bills customers are using.
Bottlestop Liquors on East Washington Avenue in Madison has decided to stop accepting $100 bills after recently getting tricked by a fake one.
"Well, we decided that we're not going to take $100s right now -- this one was that good," said Todd Toycen, owner of Bottlestop Liquors.
The bill that Toycen got looked and felt like a real $100 bill. It passed the special pen test, in which a pen marking on the bill turns golden to indicate genuine. And when held up to the light, the fake bill had the right watermark -- a second portrait of Benjamin Franklin to the right of the center portrait.
"I matched it up with another bill and the only thing that was different was just that water mark, and it was awful close," Toycen said.
Toycen said the bill also had the right security strip, in it that read "USA One Hundred," and almost fooled his bank as well.
"When we took it to the bank, they inspected it and they thought it was real also. And they inspected it for another four or five hours and called me and said, 'We have to send this in. We think it's a bad one,'" Toycen said.
The Secret Service said it isn't surprised by the report of the high-quality fake bill.
"The technology is so good now and it's very affordable. Ten years ago they (copiers and scanners) were way more expensive. You can go to Circuit City or Best Buy and purchase a scanner for $60 now," said Special Agent Jack Leskovar, with the Secret Service.
Leskovar said searching for all the security features in a bill is still the best way to beat a fake. He said special pens are helpful but not foolproof.
Secret Service Says Technology Means Higher Quality Fakes, May 21, 2009
MADISON, Wis. -- Some retailers are reporting seeing some unusually high-quality fake bills lately, and that doesn't come as a surprise the U.S. Secret Service.
The Secret Service investigates counterfeit money. In just one 10-month period ending in August of last year, the Secret Service took more than $100 million of counterfeit cash out of circulation.
Authorities are continuing to see counterfeit money in Madison, and that has some area retailers keeping a closer eye on the bills customers are using.
Bottlestop Liquors on East Washington Avenue in Madison has decided to stop accepting $100 bills after recently getting tricked by a fake one.
"Well, we decided that we're not going to take $100s right now -- this one was that good," said Todd Toycen, owner of Bottlestop Liquors.
The bill that Toycen got looked and felt like a real $100 bill. It passed the special pen test, in which a pen marking on the bill turns golden to indicate genuine. And when held up to the light, the fake bill had the right watermark -- a second portrait of Benjamin Franklin to the right of the center portrait.
"I matched it up with another bill and the only thing that was different was just that water mark, and it was awful close," Toycen said.
Toycen said the bill also had the right security strip, in it that read "USA One Hundred," and almost fooled his bank as well.
"When we took it to the bank, they inspected it and they thought it was real also. And they inspected it for another four or five hours and called me and said, 'We have to send this in. We think it's a bad one,'" Toycen said.
The Secret Service said it isn't surprised by the report of the high-quality fake bill.
"The technology is so good now and it's very affordable. Ten years ago they (copiers and scanners) were way more expensive. You can go to Circuit City or Best Buy and purchase a scanner for $60 now," said Special Agent Jack Leskovar, with the Secret Service.
Leskovar said searching for all the security features in a bill is still the best way to beat a fake. He said special pens are helpful but not foolproof.