Watch Out For Counterfeit Bills

If you come into contact with a $50 or $100 bill, check it carefully! The Secret Service says there's a lot more funny money floating around the NYC-metro area.

WNBC has PDFS explaining what to look for on the bills ($50, $100); it's pretty to cool to see the differences. Since the Secret Service is pointing out printing differences, it looks like the paper is pretty close and has that metal strand.

We've been stuck with counterfeit money twice - $5 bill both times which savvy cashiers marked with the special pen - and it sucks worse than being stuck with Canadian currency. And here's the Secret Service on how to know your money.

Back in 1996, some people working in the printing office at Columbia University were busted for printing $80,000 in $20 bills - they had used similar paper and color copiers to create "fair copies."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on March 3, 2007 11:18 AM

Comments [rss]

Not Amused

Lol, Does it really matter ? I don't care how many times they redevelop, Reface, Or add on to the bills, It's not going to change anything ! I wonder how much money the government pours into the it's currency every time they change it ?

oracle monkey

sorry, jen -- but nobody counterfeits $5 bills. if you got stuck with those, something else was going on in that grocery store.

Brightliner

"Metal strand"? What metal strand? Are you referring to the security thread? That's not metal.

ed_Extinct

newer versions of photoshop like cs1,2 and 3 detect money being scanned and somehow knows to abort the scan. couinterfeiting is a growing problem with better technology, but it's also nothing new.

there was a huge counterfeiting sting in hell's kitchhen last year. in fact a few bars and restaurant owners i know in the area were hit hard by thefake bills. i was in a bar one night when a guy tried to hand off a few fake's/ needless to say he was arrested and charged with counterfeiting and treason.