Two young men tried to pass counterfeit currency to Anderson Food and Gas on Tuesday, Dec. 15, according to Anderson Police Department. One asked for change for a $100 bill but was denied by the clerk. A second man, a regular customer, asked for and received change for a $20 bill.
The clerk, Araceli Herrera, was suspicious and contacted APD who searched for but did not locate the two men.
"He was a regular customer," Araceli Herrera said of the man who passed the fake $20.
Herrera described the man as in his early 20s with blonde hair, baggy eyes and smelling of marijuana.
While counterfeit bills are common during the holiday season, most are passed by people from out of town who target businesses along Interstate 5, Kirvin said.
The man who passed the fake $20, however, was likely local, as the clerk indicated he was a regular customer.
Kirvin also said the fake bill was a well-made counterfeit.
There are security features on bills to determine whether they are counterfeit.
"Look at the money you receive. Compare a suspect note with a genuine note of the same denomination and series, paying attention to the quality of printing and paper characteristics. Look for differences, not similarities," according to the U.S. Secret Service Web site.
The Secret Service recommends holding the note up to light source to better see the Security Thread and watermark.
Also place the note under ultra violet light, as Security Threads will glow a certain color on 1996 and later series notes depending on their denomination, according to a Secret Service document.
The APD investigation is ongoing.
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 4
Sassy writes:
The local guy could have just been given it as change by someone else and it was a mistake. How could he know, the other person did not get the change so it is hard to say if it was indeed a counterfeit bill.
This is good advice though, the bank has been giving me one hundred dollar bills when I withdraw money, and upon spending it I do get some twenties back.
I guess I better start looking at my change better.
Short writes:
When I have to break a large bill, clerks seem to make a big scene, holding it up to the light, over their head etc...then use the little pen on it. I prefer to get my cash in smaller bills because they are easier to deal with. Nobody puts a twenty under a microscope.
Sassy writes:
That would be funny if I started holding up my change to see if it is real or not. I am going to do that next time the clerk does it to me.
Short writes:
I love it! Can you imagine the look on their face when you question their money? Take it one step further and ask to borrow their little pen for a moment and mark on each bill "just to be sure". Have a good night LovePuppies. Cute name.
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