CPD warns businesses and public of counterfeit bills
The Columbia Police Department issued a warning Tuesday to local businesses about counterfeit $20 bills.
The news release came in response to nine separate instances of counterfeit bills being used at local businesses like fast food restaurants and convenience stores. In several cases, bank employees discovered the counterfeit bills after businesses attempted to deposit them.
In the most recent case April 8, police offers developed leads and are pursuing them.
There are measures business owners can take to prevent falling victim to this type of crime, the news release stated.
“It is important for businesses to take the time to teach their employees how to spot counterfeit bills,” CPD spokeswoman Jessie Haden said in the release. “The bank will catch them and the business will take the loss. Counterfeit-detecting pens work well and cost a very small amount of money, and UV light detectors work even better.”
The ink from counterfeit detecting pens appears amber on authentic currency; on counterfeit bills, the mark turns much darker. This is not to say the pens are foolproof, the news release stated. Some substances can affect genuine bills. Additionally, the pens will not catch authentic bills that have been “bleached” and turned into higher denomination bills, the news release stated.
“For these reasons, employees should become familiar with the particular security features of the different denominations,” Haden said in the release.
She also said the U.S. Bureau of Engraving’s Web site is a valuable resource with interactive features that allows people to fully examine all the bills’ security features.
The release encouraged business owners and managers to educate employees on how to handle situations in which customers present counterfeit bills or bills they suspect are counterfeit. Employees should not hesitate to call police when this happens, the release stated.