Counterfeit bills hit Blytheville

BLYTHEVILLE, Ark. - The Blytheville Police Department has received at least ten different reports of businesses or individuals receiving counterfeit money in Blytheville since July 18. Most incidences involved counterfeit $10, $20 and $100 bills. There has also been one instance of a counterfeit $50 being reported. In the case of the counterfeit $100 bills, at least, all of the serial numbers were identical.

"Most of what we are getting is when they are doing their deposits. Some have even gotten to the bank before being caught. Stores are using their [counterfeit detecting] pens, but they are using it when they do their deposit instead of when they are collecting the money," Captain Scott Adams of the Blytheville Police Department CID said.

Businesses that have reported receiving counterfeit money since July 18 include Hibbett Sports, Kroger, Gary's Food Mart, Tractor Supply, Kroger Gas Station, Taco Bell and Hardee's.

"The quickest way [to detect a counterfeit bill] is to use the pen. It is very difficult for an individual to be able to detect counterfeits, but it is possible with the pen. They need to be using their pens when they collect money," Adams added.

While is is certainly difficult to definitively identify counterfeit money using only the naked eye, there are a few tips that the United States Secret Service offer on their website http://www.secretservice.gov/money_detec.... The website says to be sure to "really look at the money you receive. Compare a suspect note with a genuine note of the same denomination and series, paying attention to the quality of printing and paper characteristics. Look for differences not similarities."

Regarding the portrait on the bill, the genuine portrait "appears lifelike and stands out distinctly from the background. The counterfeit portrait is usually lifeless and flat. Details merge into the background, which is often too dark or mottled." Also examine the federal reserve and treasury seals. "On a genuine bill, the saw-tooth points of the Federal Reserve and Treasury seals are clear, distinct, and sharp. The counterfeit seals may have uneven, blunt, or broken saw-tooth points."

The border of the bill represents a challenge to counterfeiters as well. "The fine lines in the border of a genuine bill are clear and unbroken. On the counterfeit, the lines in the outer margin and scrollwork may be blurred and indistinct." Another common mistake made by counterfeiters are the serial numbers. "Genuine serial numbers have a distinctive style and are evenly spaced. The serial numbers are printed in the same ink color as the Treasury Seal. On a counterfeit, the serial numbers may differ in color or shade of ink from the Treasury seal. The numbers may not be uniformly spaced or aligned."

The paper on which money is printed is very distinctive as well. "Genuine currency paper has tiny red and blue fibers embedded throughout. Often counterfeiters try to simulate these fibers by printing tiny red and blue lines on their paper. Close inspection reveals, however, that on the counterfeit note the lines are printed on the surface, not embedded in the paper. It is illegal to reproduce the distinctive paper used in the manufacturing of United States currency."

For more information, and to see photographic examples of the differences between genuine currency and counterfeit, visit the United States Secret Service's website at http://www.secretservice.gov/money_detec... .