Police: Port Washington sees influx of counterfeit bills

Amelia Camurati
Five counterfeit $100 bills have been found in the Port Washington area recently, Port Washington Police Chief James Salerno said. (Photo courtesy U.S. Department of the Treasury)

Port Washington businesses and residents should be on the lookout for counterfeit $100 bills, police said.

Port Washington Police Chief James Salerno spoke at an Aug. 8 Port Washington Chamber of Commerce meeting about five recent cases of phony $100 bills being found in the area.

Port Washington Deputy Police Chief Robert Del Muro said there is no foolproof way to spot a counterfeit bill, including the markers many businesses use to test.

“A lot of people use the pens, but the problem is a lot of the bills have been washed and reprinted, and the pen only tests the paper, not the ink or anything else,” Del Muro said.

Del Muro said all of the counterfeit bills were found along Main Street a few weeks ago.

“What you find is the people that pass $100, they give it to somebody to go to a group of stores, and they’ll buy coffee and a bagel to cash the $100 bill,” Del Muro said. “They’re usually told to bring a percentage back, so they buy as little as possible.”

If suspicious about a small purchase with a $100 bill, Del Muro recommends businesses ask for smaller bills because “it’s not worth the $5 purchase.”

If a real $100 bill is tilted back and forth, the bells in the blue 3-D security ribbon change to 100s as they move. The ribbon is woven into the paper, not printed on it. (Photo courtesy U.S. Department of the Treasury)

“If somebody comes in, be wary of it. I know it’s hard to send away a customer, but for the $5 that’s going to come in, is it really worth taking the chance?” Del Muro said.

According to federal law, a person intentionally creating or using counterfeit money to purchase goods in the United States can face up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.

The Federal Reserve Board issues $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 notes. Each note has specific features that are unique to that denomination.

According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s currency education program, there are six features to look for on $100 bills, including a blue 3-D security ribbon, color-shifting ink, a watermark on the Benjamin Franklin portrait and raised printing on Franklin’s left shoulder.

In the 3-D ribbon, the bells will change to 100s as they move. When moving the note back and forth, the bells and numbers will move side to side.

When holding the $100 bill to a light, an embedded thread, imprinted with USA and 100, can be seen running vertically to the left of the Franklin portrait. A faint image of Franklin on the far right of the front of the bill is also slightly visible under light.

If you receive a counterfeit bill, contact the Port Washington police at (516) 883-0500.

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