OCEAN CITY — The Ocean City Police Department this week is urging residents, business owners and employees to be on the lookout for counterfeit currency being circulated in the resort.
In the past month, there have been three reports of counterfeit currency being passed in local businesses, including two phony $50 bills and one counterfeit $100 bill. Ocean City Police are encouraging citizens to closely examine currency by looking carefully at the money being exchanged. Businesses owners and employees are being urged to examine the currency when receiving large bills for very small purchases.
Suspect will often pass the larger counterfeit bill to exchange it for real currency, not necessarily to purchase big ticket items.
Business owners and employees are also being reminded counterfeit detection pens very often generate false results. Counterfeiters can use bleached genuine currency or coat counterfeit notes to prevent the proper chemical reactions.
The Federal Reserve Board offers several tips to detect suspicious or counterfeit currency. For example, genuine U.S. currency has a unique feel. The bills should feel slightly rough to the touch and if they feel different than what one is used to, they should be examined more closely.
Business owners and employees are urged to tilt the bills back and forth to observe the color-shifting ink in the right-hand corner. On denominations of $10 or higher, most bills will shift from copper to green. In addition, check the watermark and security thread by holding bills up to a light. A watermark should be visible from both sides and will match the portrait or denomination. A security thread should also be visible from both sides and match the denomination. When held to UV light, the security thread will glow a unique color.
