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e Havre Police Department Tuesday received counterfeit $20 bills passed to a business in the area, and an investigating officer urged all people in the area to use caution when they are given bills during a transaction.
"This seems to be a new type of (counterfeit) bill coming out," Sgt. Andrew Poulos said. "It appears to be as real-looking as they come."
He said the counterfeit bills look authentic, although they tend to be worn as if they had been bunched up in someone's pocket for some time.
Poulos said area businesses should use test pens that check for counterfeit bills, and that the bill's authenticity also can be checked by holding it up to the light to see if the vertical thread that is in real bills is present.
One security item the counterfeiters have not been able to duplicate is a polyester thread that runs vertically through the bill, he said. The thread only can be seen if the bill is looked at with a light source behind it, or viewed under ultraviolet light. The thread is inscribed with the denomination of the note.
"Test pens are a good tool to arm your staff with to help detect counterfeits, but so is training staff to detect," the Better Business Bureau said in its release to accredited businesses. "Train your front line staff how to check the most used denominations for potential issues, up to $100 bills. If you or your staff come across a counterfeit bill, report it (as soon as possible) to your financial institution."
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e Havre Police Department Tuesday received counterfeit $20 bills passed to a business in the area, and an investigating officer urged all people in the area to use caution when they are given bills during a transaction.
"This seems to be a new type of (counterfeit) bill coming out," Sgt. Andrew Poulos said. "It appears to be as real-looking as they come."
He said the counterfeit bills look authentic, although they tend to be worn as if they had been bunched up in someone's pocket for some time.
Poulos said area businesses should use test pens that check for counterfeit bills, and that the bill's authenticity also can be checked by holding it up to the light to see if the vertical thread that is in real bills is present.
One security item the counterfeiters have not been able to duplicate is a polyester thread that runs vertically through the bill, he said. The thread only can be seen if the bill is looked at with a light source behind it, or viewed under ultraviolet light. The thread is inscribed with the denomination of the note.
"Test pens are a good tool to arm your staff with to help detect counterfeits, but so is training staff to detect," the Better Business Bureau said in its release to accredited businesses. "Train your front line staff how to check the most used denominations for potential issues, up to $100 bills. If you or your staff come across a counterfeit bill, report it (as soon as possible) to your financial institution."
Join the Havre Daily News facebook page to keep up on local news at http://www.facebook.com/havredailynews.
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