Fake money continues to cause real headaches in Augusta.
Three weeks into the new year have yielded at least six cases of counterfeit bills reported to Richmond County sheriff's investigators.
Police said five involved someone using phony bills to pay for everything from a meal at the Windsor Spring Road Popeye's Chicken and Biscuits to merchandise at the Peach Orchard Road Dollar General. In the sixth case, a customer of the Citgo Gas on Gordon Highway said he later determined he had received a fake $10 bill in change.
On Wednesday, a counterfeit $20 bill also was reported at the Kentucky Fried Chicken on East Martintown Road in North Augusta.
Counterfeit bill cases fall into the overall first-degree forgery category and are not tracked separately by Richmond County authorities. Overall forgery cases have increased from 1,013 in 2007 to 1,315 last year, according to sheriff's office statistics.
In Columbia County, sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris said his office investigated 28 counterfeit cases in 2008.
"That's about average for us," he said. "Maybe slightly up."
And in the midst of an unsteady economy, officials say it wouldn't be far-fetched for some who have never thought of using counterfeit money to consider such a crime.
"People do desperate things in desperate times," said Richmond County sheriff's Sgt. Randy Hayes.
Knowing this, authorities offer some suggestions for both customers and businesses.
First, "Look at your change," said Sgt. Hayes, adding that there are many security features in bills to examine, including watermarks and special threads.
A redesigned $5 bill with such security features was introduced last March. Officials with the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing say a redesign for the $100 bill is next, but a time frame hasn't yet been determined for its release.
Sgt. Hayes said on Wednesday his office turned over its latest batch of confiscated counterfeit bills to the Secret Service, which archives them and seeks to link them to the forger.
Forest Pruitt, of the Secret Service's Atlanta field office, had this advice.
"The main thing I would tell people is don't try to pass it (a fake bill received as change)," he said. "Once you've got it, you're out the money," and "... Once you're aware it's counterfeit, you need to call us or local law enforcement to get the bill turned in."
He said "common sense" is used in whether to prosecute someone passing a bill to determine intent, but counterfeit money "is considered contraband."
For businesses, Mr. Pruitt and Sgt. Hayes warn against completely relying on a pen that is often used to mark a bill to show whether it's genuine.
"Everybody depends on that black pen ... That black pen is not the gospel," Sgt. Hayes said. "There are some things that you can do to a bill and it will test positive."
Mr. Pruitt said his agency doesn't endorse the pen, adding that it should be considered just one tool in determining a counterfeit.
Besides checking a bill yourself, Mr. Pruitt said people should also feel free to call his agency at (404) 331-6111 for verification.
"Call us," he said. "We're 24-7. We can actually take a look at the bill, and that's how we can better determine the genuineness of it."
Reach Preston Sparks at (706) 823-3338 or preston.sparks@augustachronicle.com.
SECURITY FEATURES
THE NEW $5 BILL:
Two watermarks -- a large number 5 to the right of the portrait; a column of three smaller 5s to the portrait's left
Security thread -- thread runs vertically to the right of the portrait; USA followed by 5 in an alternating pattern along the thread on both sides of the bill. The thread should glow blue if held under an ultraviolet light.
THE NEW $10 BILL:
Color-shifting ink -- the bill can be tilted to show a 10 in the lower right-hand corner change color from copper to green
Watermark -- there should be a faint image of Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton to the right of his larger portrait
Security thread -- embedded in the paper, with USA Ten and a small flag visible in small print to the right of the portrait
THE NEW $20 BILL:
Color -- background colors of green, peach and blue added to both sides; Twenty USA also printed in blue in the background to the right of the portrait; small yellow 20s printed in the background on back of the bill
Symbols -- two eagles have been added: one blue to the left of President Jackson's portrait and one green and metallic to the lower right of the portrait
Updated portrait: portrait moved up; shoulders extended
Source: U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Comments
If you're stuck with the phony money, it seems it would behoove you to pass it so the next person would be stuck with the phony bill. "But Officer, I didn't even know it was phony. I thought the bank would check before giving me phony cash." There used to be a game call hot potato ... this seems to fall into the same category.
I'm with PT on this one. Get rid of it at the next store you see.
Who in the hell would fake a one dollar bill?
You would think that the ink and paper needed to counterfiet a one dollar bill would exceed value of the bill itself.
Sadly...for the people who DO end up with a counterfiet bill, they are NOT EASY to see as counterfeit! In all reality, who in their right mind is looking at $1's, $5,'s and $10's when you put them in your pocket or wallet? That is the whole purpose with this run of counterfeit's...they aren't printing $50's and $100's because they are more likely to be penned! Again...we have counterfeiters outsmarting the 'professionals.' LOL...
First, don't use cash. If it's in your hand, you're more likely to SPEND IT!!!
db16, the professionals are the ones counterfeiting. It's the police that are trying to stop them. When the professionals move to a new product of counterfeiting, there's a lag time before the police begin to react. Your humor makes it appear you feel you're not affected by the counterfeiters. The humor may come from your apparent lack of understanding of the big picture.
lol to pass the fake bills give them as tips...
again patricia, as usual, you missed my point! I am talking about the professionals at the US TREASURY DEPARTMENT! Go ahead and rent 'Catch Me If You Can' and you will see what I mean! It takes our Treasury Department years to 'create' new, counterfeit proof (and I use that loosely), bills and it takes a counterfeiter less than a month to duplicate it! And what you speak of about 'lag time' is common for anything...it is due to the fact that they haven't even realized there is a problem! This time though...counterfeiters have gotten a little smarter and are duplicating 'small' bills that are not easily distinguished! I had a $1.00 in my hand last week...you CANNOT tell the difference with the naked eye...
PT's 5:54 advice/comment is VERY BAD!! If you know you have a CF bill and you try and tell a trained investigator you didn't know it, you WILL be found out. If you suspect a bill is fake, take it to a bank or local law enforcement. It is better to be without the money and be honest than it is to get caught knowingly using the money.
That dollar bill Jason Lee is holding looks genuine to me.
Is this the help promised by Obama. I didn't realize it would be so easy.
the quickest and easy way to see the fake bills is to install blacklights by the register. It will be obvious when you see a counterfeit - They Glow.
Wait wait wait.....I have a clue.....They were used 1)on the southside, 2) a chicken joint, 3) another chicken joint, 4) a family dollar and 5) a Citgo. Think about it! LOL The perp eats too much chicken, goes to family dollar to get some Tums, stops by the Citgo for smokes and a tall boy.
Who would go to the trouble of making fake bill and go to the Family Dollar? Man go to Augusta Mall.
in response to Apirateslife. Your weak and childish attempt at humor was unsuccessful.The only thing you succeded in was showing your ingnorance.
I know the Subway on Walton Way checks ALL of their bills... I guess someone passed too many off on them in the past.
br2112br512, You are right..I have left the Southside comment off. The rest of it stands tall, just liek the tall boy. Arrrrrggggh.... Ignorance? To make a fake "one dollar" bill is ignorant....LOL........ At least make a ten spot.
Especially since the article said there were cases in Columbia county and North Augusta. Which is not on the southside lol.
I have yet to see if anyone peruses the cash received as change in a check-out line to assure it is not counterfeit! Furthermore, most people don't even know what they are looking for to make sure they are receiving the real deal. All I can do is hope I never receive a counterfeit bill--and that's probably how most other posters feel.
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