| Counterfeit money in the United States has become | | | | around the problem of it feeling like paper and the |
| such a prevalent problem that it is possible you could | | | | serial numbers not being different. |
| receive counterfeit money in your change when you | | | | One of the most common methods is to take four $10 |
| buy something at major retailers such as Wal Mart. | | | | notes or four $20 notes and cut one corner from |
| Most large retailers don't want to spend the money or | | | | each of them and glue those corners onto a one-dollar |
| time to properly train their employees in how to spot | | | | note. |
| counterfeit money. Instead, they rely upon those | | | | All of a sudden these $1 notes turn into fake $10 notes |
| marking pens that contain ink that supposedly changes | | | | or fake $20 notes that not only feel like real notes but |
| color when marked on counterfeit money. | | | | also have different serial numbers. They will also pass |
| The reason the ink would change color when marked | | | | the counterfeit pen test. |
| on a counterfeit note is that almost all counterfeit notes | | | | They then use these doctored notes to buy items for |
| are made of paper. | | | | only a dollar or two and the clerk gives them real |
| Money is not made of paper, it is made of cloth, a | | | | money back as change (assuming the clerk hasn't |
| blend of 25% linen and 75% cotton. That's why money | | | | previously taken in counterfeit notes unknowingly, of |
| feels the way it does. | | | | course.) |
| But most do not realize that many of those pens will | | | | Not knowing they just put a doctored note into the till, |
| tell you the same thing when marked on ordinary | | | | they subsequently give it to an unsuspecting customer |
| newspaper - it's real! Many of those counterfeit note | | | | as change. It could be you. |
| marking pens do not work. Very few people think to | | | | It's easy to pass doctored notes like this because |
| test them and are unaware of this. | | | | people do not look at the note itself. They only glance |
| So it is very possible a store clerk will take in | | | | at the number in the corner. If it has a 10 in the corner, |
| counterfeit money and put it in the till without realizing it | | | | it must be a $10 note, right? |
| is fake. | | | | If they were to actually look at the note, they would |
| Of course, the clerk also makes change out of the | | | | discover it is doctored because the wrong President is |
| same till, and gives the same fake money to an | | | | on it. |
| unsuspecting customer. | | | | Everyone knows Washington is on the $1 note. He is |
| You might even have counterfeit money in your billfold | | | | not on the $10 note nor the $20 note. |
| right now and not even know it. | | | | Do you know which President is on the $2 note? On |
| Real or counterfeit - can you tell the difference? | | | | the $5? |
| Most Americans don't have a clue. | | | | Who is on the $10 note? Who is on the $20 note? |
| One of the easiest ways to tell is to feel it. Since real | | | | The $50 note? The $100 note? |
| money is printed on cloth, if you feel copier paper it's | | | | Not knowing could cost you. |
| most likely fake. | | | | Memorizing which President should be on which note is |
| College students are not the brightest people on Earth. | | | | one way to help you detect a counterfeit note and |
| They will buy the most advanced color copiers and | | | | avoid being cheated out of your hard-earned money. |
| simply make copies of a $10 note or a $20 note and | | | | It is not a crime to be in possession of a counterfeit |
| try to pass them around town. | | | | note unless you are trying to defraud someone by |
| They forget that not only does it not feel like cloth, but | | | | giving it to them to purchase something. If you do, you |
| every single note will have the exact same serial | | | | could receive 15 years in prison and a $15,000 fine. |
| number as the original. | | | | (USC Title 18, Section 472) |
| If someone hands you two or more notes of the | | | | (Answers: Thomas Jeffferson is on the $2, Abraham |
| same denomination, check the serial numbers. If they | | | | Lincoln is on the $5, Alexander Hamilton is on the $10, |
| match, call the police immediately because one or all of | | | | Andrew Jackson is on the $20, Hiram Grant is on the |
| them are counterfeit. | | | | $50 (Grant's first name is not Ulysses, as commonly |
| There are methods counterfeiters will use to get | | | | thought.) and Benjamin Franklin is on the $100 note. |
