Counterfeit bills in Cresco

CRESCO - Two fake bills have been found in Cresco over the past three weeks. According to Police Chief Tim Ruroden, “A Counterfeit $100 bill was circulated about three weeks ago and then this week a $20 bill was cashed.”

He said anyone receiving money should look over the bills carefully. Items to look for include:

1. Printed area on the front side is too dark compared to the outside border.

2. Serial number on the front should be all numerical except the last digit. The fake ones are all letters.

3. The name on front below picture should say Jackson not Cruger.

4. Front and back both have stamped “COPY” on them.

5. There is a serial number on the back that has some foreign letters in it that shouldn’t be there.

6. On the back, below the picture of the White House, it should say “The White House.”

7. Many times counterfeit bills feel different than real money.

The chief explained some companies are selling “movie prop money,” which look real on the big screen but are definitely not real.

Special pens can be used to determine if a bill is fake, but Ruroden said the test can sometimes come back as real money when it is actually counterfeit. The best way to ascertain if it is legal tender is to check each bill.