|
Counterfeit Awareness...
Counterfeiting
has been around since the beginning of time, yet rapid
technological advances within the past few years have allowed
counterfeiters to create amazingly accurate reproductions of
U.S. currency. Business owners in Central Wisconsin are
beginning to feel the impact of unknowingly accepting these
counterfeit bills, and River Cities Bank offers the following
suggestions to help business owners educate themselves and their
employees in the fight against counterfeiting.
By
far, the best way to prevent against losses from accepting
counterfeit currency is to know how to detect the counterfeit
bills before accepting payment. Always look at the money
you receive and compare a suspect note with a genuine note of
the same denomination and series, paying special attention to
the quality of printing and paper characteristics. Since many
counterfeit fifties and hundreds are now printed on the paper
from bleached-out ones or fives, the use of counterfeit pens is
no longer an effective measure of authenticity. Ensure your
employees are alert to the growing prevalence of counterfeits in
circulation and always look for the following indicators prior
to accepting bills from customers:
· The
security thread
on
a genuine bill runs vertically up one side of the bill and is
visible on both the front and back when held up to the light.
Upon close inspection of this security thread, you should
clearly see “USA” and the denomination of the bill printed in
succession on the strip (i.e. “USA 50”). Counterfeit bills may
contain a thread; however, the printing on it is not distinctive
and/or the thread is visible on one side of the bill when not
held to the light.
View example
· The
number located in the bottom right corner on the face of
the bill is made of color-shifting ink and a slight
backward and forward shift of the bill changes its appearance.
The number appears green when viewed directly and changes to
black on older bills when tilted and gold on newer bills. This
color-shifting ink cannot be copied and is not present on
counterfeit bills.
View example 1 -
View example 2
· If
you hold a bill up to the light, a watermark of the
portrait is visible in a lighter area of the bill. The watermark
does not copy on color copiers or scanners, so the watermark
that appears on counterfeit bills is often the watermark of a
lower denomination bill or a poorly constructed version of the
original.
View example
· Overall
printing on a genuine bill is clear and detailed;
specifically the portrait appears lifelike and stands out
distinctly from the background and the fine details in the
border are clear and unbroken.
View example 1 -
View example 2 -
View example 3
· 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, whereas counterfeits may show the seal and
the serial numbers in different colors.
View example 1 -
View example 2 -
View example 3
If
you think you’ve received a counterfeit bill, do not return
it to the passer. Delay the person if possible, note their
physical characteristics, and write down the license plate
number and description of a vehicle when possible. Do not try to
delay the passer if doing so will upset them and put yourself or
anyone else in danger. Immediately notify the local police and
safeguard the bill until you can release it to the proper
authorities.
Helpful Resources:
United States Secret Service:
www.secretservice.gov
US Bureau
of Engraving and Printing - The Redesigned Currency:
www.moneyfactory.gov
Anatomy of a
Bill:
www.pbs.org
How to spot
counterfeit money:
www.msn.com
How Counterfeiting Works - Steps
to protect yourself:
www.howstuffworks.com |
