KLTV 7 News Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville |Longview Police warn of counterfeit money scam

Longview Police warn of counterfeit money scam

By Bob Hallmark - bio | email
Posted by Ellen Krafve - bio | email

LONGVIEW, TX (KLTV) - Police in Longview are warning the public to "check your paper money " closely. You may be carrying a counterfeit bill. This warning comes after several "fake" $100 bills have been circulated.

"Counterfeiting has been around ever since there has been currency to counterfeit," said Sergeant Rob Bowen, with Longview Police.

Similar to a recent case in Henderson, investigators believe the bills are $1, $5 or $10 bills that have had the ink removed and then have been reprinted as $100.

"Somebody that receives one of these types of bills, the loss is pretty much going to be theirs," said Bowen.

But, there is an easy way to check.

"This is a slick piece of work, but...the $100 has a picture of Ben Franklin, and the water mark is Abraham Lincoln," said Sergeant Rob Bowen, with Longview Police.

Detection devices, like color markers and counting machines don't always catch the bills, because they're printed on real currency.

"You may actually get this back as change from a local business," said Bowen. "We've even had instances where someone received one of these from a bank."

But, there is and easy way to find a fake.

"The two things that everybody can look for - [the] easiest way to identify it is the security thread and the water mark," he said.

Police say to check your big bills closely. Secret service agents are investigating the bills. Residents are asked to contact the Longview Police Department if they find one of these counterfeit bills.

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