$150,000 In Counterfeit Money Expected to Pass Through The Area Next Week

Skagit County, Washington-  The Island County Sheriff’s Office released a Business Alert at 9:09 am  on October 6th, 2016 in reference to a large amount of  counterfeit bills coming through the area.

According to the Business Alert, the Island County Sheriff’s Office has received information that in the next week or two there may be $150,000 in counterfeit bills coming through Whidbey Island.   They do not have any indication on the denominations of the bills or the quality of the bills.  Merchants should check each bill very carefully.

The bills will most likely be passed in a variety of ways and in addition to Island County they will most likely end up in Skagit, Whatcom and Snohomish County as well.  If you suspect a counterfeit note, please call 9-1-1 and report it.

For your personal safety, the Island County Sheriff’s Office asks that you please follow the following tips:

1. Do not put yourself in danger.
2. Do not return the bill to the passer. Remember the person may not know it is counterfeit and you may have to explain why you are holding it.
3. Delay the passer with some excuse, if possible. If the person tries to leave, don’t physically restrain them.
4. Observe the passer’s description – and their companions’ descriptions – and write down their vehicle license plate numbers and description if you can.
5. Write your initials and date in the white border area of the suspected counterfeit note.
6. DO NOT handle the counterfeit note. Place it inside a protective cover, a plastic bag, or envelope to protect it until you place it in the hands of the police.
7. Surrender the note or coin ONLY to a properly identified police officer.

Please Note: There is no financial remuneration for the return of the counterfeit bill, but it is doing the “right thing” to help combat counterfeiting.

The Island County Sheriff’s Office also provided the following tips for business owners to share with their employees on how to tell is a bill is counterfeit.  If you don’t have a special pen, the following link will help you identify the bills that are counterfeit.

Counterfeit at a glance

https://www.quora.com/How-do-you-check-for-counterfeit-US-dollar-bills

 

Below is a link to help merchants with the security features of the bills(if the link doesn’t work then copy the URL listed below it and paste it in your browser):

US Currency Security Features

https://uscurrency.gov/seven-denominations