SPOKANE, Wash. – A local bank employee claimed to find counterfeit $100 bills floating around the Spokane area Thursday.
The employee said she wanted to warn the community because most people and businesses will not even notice they are fake. She could tell it was a counterfeit bill for a few reasons.
“They appear to be $1 bills that are washed and reprinted as $100 bills,” noted the bank employee.
She also pointed out the water mark and white magnetic strip that can be seen on the back of the bill is different than real bills. She also added that some of the bills have been chemically washed so much that they no longer feel right.
Kristin Davis is the Marketplace Development Director for the Better Business Bureau. She said businesses and even consumers should educate themselves on how to identify a fake bill.
“How money has been produced over the years has changed a lot and especially with technology, they’ve really had to change how they produce those different bills,” explained Davis.
The U.S. Currency website points out specific elements that each bill should have. Some characteristics can only be seen under UV light.
Even without a UV light, there are a few things to look for right away.
First, you should feel the texture of the bill. It should not be able to tear easily because U.S. bills are not actually paper, but made out of linen and cotton.
With newer bills, there should be a security ribbon to the right of Benjamin Franklin’s portrait. You can also hold the bill to the light and be able to see a water mark of Franklin’s portrait on the right.
If you do end up with a fake bill, you are advised to report it to your local police department and notify the establishment it came from.