Be on the alert for counterfeit bills potentially being exchanged at your business. Bank tellers have seen an increase in counterfeit bills used in area locations the last few weeks.
For $100 bills, you may be used to checking with a marking pen. In addition, a way to verify a legitimate bill is to double check the 100 in the corner of the bill. The color change of copper/green to black on the 100 in the lower right corner will help you verify an authentic $100 bill. A fake bill will not turn to black when you tilt the bill. It will stay copper/green.
Read the US Currency guide for detecting counterfeit bills here: Know Your Money (uscurrency.gov)
If you do receive counterfeit currency, bring it to your financial institution for next steps and reporting the currency.
FAQs
Examine the serial numbers.
Make sure that the serial numbers on a bill match, and look at them carefully. Fake bills may have serial numbers that are not evenly spaced or that are not perfectly aligned in a row. If you received multiple suspicious bills, see if the serial numbers are the same on both bills.
Can you get in trouble for counterfeit money if you didn't know? ›
If you have been accused of trying to pass off counterfeit currency, the prosecution will have to prove that you were knowledgeable about the falsehood of your money or that you intended to commit fraud.
Which bills are counterfeited the most? ›
The $20 bill is the most commonly counterfeited banknote in the U.S., while overseas counterfeiters are more likely to make fake $100 bills. The real $100 bills are more prevalent overseas as well, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.
How to check if a $5 bill is real? ›
Hold the note to light to see an embedded thread running vertically to the left of the Federal Reserve Bank seal. The thread is imprinted with the letters USA and the word FIVE in an alternating pattern and is visible from both sides of the note. The thread glows blue when illuminated by ultraviolet light.
What happens if you accidentally deposit counterfeit money? ›
In the USA, however, fake banknotes will be removed from your account. You will have to get in contact with the police and explain how and where you got this counterfeit money. If they find out you tried to deposit fake notes willingly, you will face legal actions and can even be jailed.
How to check fake money with pen? ›
Simply uncap the pen and make a small mark on any paper U.S. currency. If the mark turns amber, the currency passes the test. If the mark turns dark brown or black, that means the bill is probably counterfeit. Stay one step ahead of counterfeiters with this easy tool.
How can you tell if someone gave you fake money? ›
Examine the holograms or color-shifting images: Some newer U.S. notes, have holograms or color-shifting images that change when you tilt the bill. Be cautious of irregularities: Look for any irregularities, such as blurred or uneven printing, missing security features, or unusual colors.
How to tell if a $2 bill is real? ›
Move your finger along the note's surface to feel the raised printing, which gives genuine Federal Reserve notes their distinctive texture.
Will the bank replace fake money? ›
Will my bank replace fake money? Banks can, at their discretion, replace fake money received by their customers, but they are unlikely to do so. It makes little difference where the counterfeit came from — a store, an individual, or an ATM. In most cases, you'll end up writing off the loss.
What happens if you pay with a fake bill? ›
So if you unwittingly hand a cashier a counterfeit bill, the cashier might call the police. The police could likely arrest you even if you deny knowing the cash was counterfeit. The issue of knowledge and intent might not come up until later, such as during plea negotiations or trial, if charges move forward.
When iodine is applied to the unique blend used by genuine US cash, there is no discoloration due to the lack of starch. However, the same effect can be accomplished by using hairspray on commonly used papers since it will create an invisible barrier between the starch and iodine from the pen.
What to do if you find $20 on the ground? ›
If you find money, especially a significant amount, you should check your local laws or contact an attorney or the police. Many communities have local laws or ordinances governing what someone must do if they find cash and don't know who it belongs to. In some instances, state law will apply.
How to tell if a $100 bill is real or fake? ›
Hold the note to light to see an embedded thread running vertically to the left of the portrait. The thread is imprinted with the letters USA and the numeral 100 in an alternating pattern and is visible from both sides of the note. The thread glows pink when illuminated by ultraviolet light.
How do you manually detect fake money? ›
To spot counterfeits, look for the absence of features like security threads, UV properties, watermarks, and color-shifting inks. Fake bills can sometimes have a few of these features, but it's difficult to replicate all of them perfectly.
Which is the best method of checking if a note is counterfeit? ›
A UV lamp which emits light at around 365 nanometres is ideal for checking the fluorescent features on all our notes.
How to check if a 50 dollar bill is real? ›
The $50 note includes an embedded security thread that glows yellow when illuminated by UV light. When held to light, a portrait watermark of President Grant is visible from both sides of the note. In addition, the note includes a color-shifting numeral 50 in the lower right corner of the note.
