Funny thing happened to me today at lunch

I went in, I ordered, I paid with a 20. I tell the lady that I am going next door to buy a newspaper and I will return. I come back and another lady tells me I have to pay with something else as the bill I used is counterfeit. I asked her to tell me what makes her think the bill is counterfeit. She takes another bill she says is counterfeit and told me to feel it and mine...she says the bill feels wrong.

I look it over and cant see anything wrong with it so I tell her I think its real and she needs to use it as it is legal tender. She wants to give it back to me, she is positive it it counterfeit and wants me to use a credit card.

I just take the non confrontational route, let it go, take the bill move on. I am no expert with US currency but it just seems like a worn bill to me and I see nothing visibly wrong with it and she performed no test to show it was save to say it 'doesn't feel right'. I shouldn't have taken it back and just told her if she wants she can call the authorities and have them assess the situation.

 

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I know from working at a bank...the first thing with a counterfeit bill that you notice is in fact that "it doesn't feel right" (assuming that it's not a washed and reprinted note) but from my experience you need to actually investigate the bill. But, than again, she probably didn't know anything about paper currency.

I saw a number of bills at the bank that "didn't feel right" and I gave them a close look and determined they were in fact real.

 

i'm not exactly knowledgeable with american counterfitting techniques but do they not have an image when u hold it to the light. and very finely written "us $20 in the edges and what not" for verification?

 

Yeah all recent us paper money, besides the 1 dollar bill, has a watermark on them.

 

Even if it was an old small faced $20 which wouldn't have that. You still should be able to tell. Like I said, "just feeling wrong" is the first thing someone who deals with money all the time would notice. That's what those stupid counterfeit pens are supposed to confirm. Because if the note doesn't feel right...it's a sign that it is the wrong kind of paper. Those pens react with wood based paper (or at least they are supposed to).

But like I said before, counterfeit's don't look right either. If you look close...and know what your looking for they really stick out.

Now, if the note was a washed note and reprinted (such as someone bleached a $1 bill and then reprinted it as a $20)...then it would both feel right and the pen wouldn't work on it.

 

I'd have to see her demonstrate how she's sure it's counterfeit. Then I'd also like to see her prove to me that's the same bill I gave her before I left the building. That would be pretty entertaining, watching a live episode of lunch lady CSI.

 

Yeah, this bill has the stripe that says twenty USA (I think) and it also has the second portrait to the right of the main portrait...I guess those things could be faked but all the same, this lady could not point to anything specific as to WHY she deemed it fake...

 

you are lucky that the authorities werent called or your next posting might have been from a federal pen. its not worth it to go there for 20 bucks. you should return the note from wherever you got it.

 

:secret: U are supposed to let the ink dry before u use them! Wait a few days and use it on her again and see what happens. (Bring one of those pens with you next time.)

 

If it were fake, and I am pretty sure it isnt...I would not go to jail for it. Its not like I made it (as far as THEY know ) I would be more than happy to have the police come and look into it and I would certainly cooperate with them and let them know I got it from the bank...In fact I thought afterwards that this would have been the correct way to deal with the situation...

I wouldnt mind getting my hands on one of those pens just to see if I am right and it isnt fake...

 

You are really just TRYING to give us ideas aren't you.

 

I think that is a federal felony. However, a fire sale on CT would help pay for a lawyer AND give us some good deals!

 

Is this the time where I write a disclaimer.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY'S AS A RESULT OF READING THIS FORUM. NOR AM I RESPONSIBLE FOR INJURY, DEATH, OR FINES.

 

CT: Where we teach you how to do illegal activities.

Next week: Minting Half Dollars for fun and profit!

 

I would not have involved the police. They are probably less able to determine a fake than the lunch lady is. That said, if it had the correct watermark and the security thread I would have pointed that out to the lady and then taken the note and my business somewhere else. The police would have only complicated things IMO and held you up for an undetermined amount of time.

 

You can interpret my comments as you like.

 

I did just that...I pointed out why I was sure it wasnt fake, told her she was refusing legal tender, then left. I was just wondering though...is there a law pertaining to this? like if you identify a fake are you supposed to call the authorities? I didnt not to make a stink about it because I had other things to do but I was just wondering what the law expects one to do.

 

Hmm, seems a discount was in order

 

My understanding in most circumstances you simply refuse to take the note. I don't think you have any legal responsibility. However, some institutions, such as a bank are required to seize the bill and give it to the proper authorities. I believe it is sent to the FBI.

 

wouldn't want to knowingly pass a fake, but to be honest I do not feel inspired to go out of my way to take it someone to have it verified but instead just to spend it. It seems real to me and everyone else I have shown it to (not saying much). If you get a fake bill from a bank do I have recourse with them I wonder? These are all hypothetical because I plan on spending it unless I see more proof than 'it feels wrong'.