The I.N.H.A. Staff Blog

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Counterfeit Bills in Circulation

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Thanks, Dan Johnson!

Please Be Advised
Please be advised that counterfeit $20 dollar bills were exchanged in Rangely last week. Vernal is also seeing $10’s and $20’s showing up in their market and those fakes are starting to find their way to surrounding areas.
The counterfeit pen may be one of the most effective tools you have to combat this problem. You can purchase one at any office supply store.
If you’re a business owner, please make certain that all of your employees are aware of the potential for counterfeit currency being used for purchases. It is real and has already occurred in Rangely.
Tips to Identify Counterfeit Bills
1. Check out the Paper, look at the following:
  • The paper texture – it will feel different
  • The thickness of the bill – fake bills are generally thicker
  • Look for colored fibers in the paper – you should be able to see tiny red and blue fibers in real currency paper
  • The printing on a real bill is raised, which can’t be duplicated with a color copier
  • Run your fingers over the bill especially around the portrait image it should feel raised not flat & smooth
2. Check the suspicious bill against a bill you know to be genuine
  • All bills with the exception $1’s & $2’s have been redesigned at least once in the last 25 years
  • For verification purposes it is best to compare bills with similar date or series
  • Look for blurred areas – especially around the edge
  • Check the serial number – each bill has two on the front make sure they match
  • Serial numbers are unique if you have 5 bills with identical serial numbers at least 4 of them are fake
3. Review the security features, the features were not on bills issued prior to 1996 for $10, $20, $50, $100 and 1999 for $5
  • Embedded Threads which appear in a different location on each denomination (Done to prevent washing the bills and copying over with different denomination)
  • Check watermark image to make sure it agrees with the image portrait on the front of the bill
  • The newest $100’s are very difficult for novice with a color copier to counterfeit, older bills are easier
4. Purchase an inexpensive Counterfeit Pen and test mark bills if it turns dark brown to black you may have a counterfeit bill
  • The pen reacts to wood pulp which is what most copier paper is made of
  • Genuine Currency is printed on Cotton Fiber
  • If you have a bill that was washed and copied over with a different denomination a detection pen will not pick up this type of fake, so do not solely depend upon the pen.
5. When in doubt take it to your local bank and request them to send it off for authentication by the powers that be. (United State Secret Service)
 
 
Below is a picture of a counterfeit bill. The brown mark on the bill indicates it is counterfeit.
INHA should have a counterfeit pen in the drawer by the cash register… we will be following up.

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