How To Tell If A Bill Is Counterfeit, There’s no shortage of cash circulating throughout the economy — about $824 billion, according to a University of Wisconsin study. But a good chunk of that cash (how much?) may not be on the up and up.
Counterfeit currency is a problem that just won’t go away, despite the increased use of credit (which cards are the best?) and debit cards and e-payment technologies. Whether it’s a street hustler passing off bogus $10 bills or professional counterfeiters dealing in stacks of $50 and $100 bills, fake currency has the full attention of the U.S. Treasury Department, the FBI and the Secret Service. (Find out the penalties for counterfeiting.)
But, as the Secret Service points out, the American public has a significant role to play in uncovering counterfeit currency. Small-business owners and retail cashiers should be trained to examine and identify phony bills — but the truth is that anyone can learn to spot a piece of counterfeit cash.
Following are some tips on how to get a handle on bogus bills. They’re relatively easy to learn and can turn you into a sharp-eyed spotter of counterfeit currency.
The Secret Service advises taking any questionable large bill and holding it up to bright lighting. If it’s a good bill, you’ll see a hologram on the face-up side of the bill. Ideally, both of the images should match up perfectly. Looking through the light should reveal a thin vertical strip that tells you more. In the photo here, a genuine $100 bill is held above a counterfeit one.
The U.S. Treasury offers this tip. Take any $10, $20 or $50 note and move it back and forth (ideally tilting it as you do). You should notice a number in the lower right-hand corner. If the bill’s good, you should be able to see a shift in these colors.
Posts
