Do You Know Your Money?

Learn How To Spot Counterfeit Currency With This Guide!

Counterfeiting currency has been going on since people began using money. It has been dubbed “the world’s second-oldest profession” in some quarters, and we’re not talking about wooden nickels. According to the United States Department of Treasury, an estimated $70 million in counterfeit bills are in circulation, or approximately one counterfeit note for every 10,000 in genuine currency. You probably have some in your wallet right now!

Counterfeiting Is A Financial Crime! It Is A Scam!

Going as far back as 5th Century Rome, Alexander the Barber was one of the first famous counterfeiters. He became so well known that instead of being punished by the ruling Emperor Justinian, he was employed by the state finance department.

One of the first instances of counterfeiting took place in the American colonies when Native Americans would trade shells known as wampum as a form of currency. Blue-black shells, which were rarer, had more value than their white counterparts. As a result, some traders would dye the white shells a blue-black color and pass them off at higher value.

Shells were eventually replaced with coins made out of gold and silver. Each coin was weighted to be precisely the same, the value of the coin based on the weight. However, counterfeiters began to shave the sides of coins to collect the valuable metal, and this is why there are ridges on the outside of coins – to make it easy to spot the shaving.

Among the coin shavers were the English couple Anne and Thomas Rogers, who after being found guilty of treason, and were hanged, drawn and quartered, and burned.

Here is the United States Secret Service Guide to help you recognized the fakes!

Real or Fake?

The United States Secret Service recommends if you receive a counterfeit:

• Do not return it to the passer (the person that gave it to you)
• Delay the passer if possible (if in-person – and call the local police)
• Observe the passer’s description, as well as that of any companions, and the license plate numbers of any vehicles used
• Contact your local police department or United States Secret Service field office or your national police if outside the U.S.
• Write your initials and the date in the white border areas of the suspect bank note (money)
• Limit the handling of the note. Carefully place it in a protective covering, such as an envelope – this helps preserve fingerprints & DNA
• Surrender the note or coin only to a properly identified police officer or a U.S. Secret Service special agent

If you’ve received a fraudulent note please submit a Counterfeit Note Report through the local Secret Service office, you local, or other national police agency.

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