Just saw a news article on local news (San Diego). It seems that a man cashed a check at a local bank for $600 (5 $100, 5 $20). When he tried to spend one of the hundreds at Home Depot, the clerk said that it was counterfeit. Someone had bleached a five and made a hundred. The man went back to the bank, but they refused to do anything about it. Can you say "Bye, bye, hundred". moral: CHECK YOUR MONEY! I've never run into any funny money, myself. How about anybody else?
On two occasions I've seen fake 100s. A guy tried to pass one on me at a gas station I managed years ago. When I pointed it out he bolted for the door. Think he knew? A few years back I was at the grocery store and the lady in front of me had a fake that the cashier noticed. Turned out well for her though as she had JUST got the note at the bank IN the store. The bank took care of it immediately. If not for the sharp eye of the cashier that lady would have been out $100. One should watch one's money as once you leave a bank it's pretty much your problem. Now with the markers (which I HATE being a currency collector) there are ways to help determine counterfeits. Bleaching presents a serious problem. In my days of handling lots of cash the "feel" of the note was a dead giveaway. Many an experienced cashier will tell you same. The note just doesn't feel right if it's on the wrong paper.
I am a law enforcement officer and I have seen many fake $20's and a few $5 but there have been many times when a cashier thinks the money is fake just by using one of the pens issued to her. Many times the pen ink change indicates the bill is fake when its the real deal.
That's why the BEP has redesigned the $5 FRN. There are similarities between the $5 & $100 that counterfeiters use to their advantage. On current $5 & $100 Federal Reserve Notes the security threads and the watermarks (both portraits) are in similar locations. Counterfeiters bleach all the printing off a $5 FRN so they have genuine note paper with genuine security features on which to print their counterfeit $100. The BEP is eliminating these similarities on the new $5 FRN. On the new $5 FRN, due to be released in March '08, the security thread has been moved to the other side of Lincoln's portrait and the watermark has been changed from Lincoln's portrait to a large numeral 5. The $100 FRN is also undergoing a redesign.
I was astonished the day a cashier ran 'the pen' over a handful of 'singles' I used to pay ~ her response was 'we've been getting a lot of counterfeits. I thought 'geez, w/the cost of toner & paper it'd hardly be worth it.... doh.... I'm thinking someone passing fake money is actually paying for toner & paper. Amazing the energy people will devote to 'beating the system' instead of 'winning at life'.
Kudos CoinGal07! If people like this actually applied themselves they'd be legit and wealthy. Probably beyond their wildest dreams.
I received a counterfeit $20 once when I cashed a check at the bank. I noticed it immediately and the cashier took it back. It looked pretty good, but you could tell it was counterfeit just by the feel of it.
