Counterfeit $20s turn up Eugene
EUGENE, Ore. - Several hundred dollars worth of counterfeit $20 bills were found circulating in Eugene, police said.
"While the total amount of fraudulent money didn't exceed more than several hundred dollars, investigators believe it serves as a good reminder to brush up on your money authentication skills," police said.
Merchants who get a bum bill are out that amount of money. Counterfeit bills cannot be exchanged for real ones.
The U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing embeds security measures in each bill that make it possible to identify counterfeit bills.
From colors to printing to artwork, bills are made difficult to fake - and easy to ID as legit.
INTERACTIVE: Explore security measures of U.S. currency
Police said $20 bills are the most popular bills to counterfeit because they are easier to pass than larger denominations. Smaller bills - even counterfeit $1 bills - are not unheard of.
Last summer, police in southern Oregon seized $200 worth of counterfeit $50s.
Not only should you watch out for fake $20.00's but also watch out for fake $5.00's too.
I know China has lots of novelty authentic coin & bill reproduction factories that operate LEGALLY within their borders, just so long as the currency reproduced is not "their" YUAN. Would not surprise me if they had factories that could reproduce not only the paper for $20 Jackson's. Such factories or hack shops sure make some very nice silver plated nickle Morgan "silver" dollars, just to name one of many. Funny how their YUAN coin shares the same dimensions as our far more valuable quarter. So easily confused, by any cashierist. But, let's not just blame China!
Years ago, foreigners in Japan had a gang (or vice-versa) putting their countries coins in Japan's vending machines. Japan's 500Yen coin (about $7) (coin)cidently shared the same dimensions as a far less valuable foreign coin. Lot's of 120Yen Coca Colas got bought whenever that gang came to town. Â
Thanks Kval for the info, people will now be able to make better counterfeit notes.
@godless anarchist ---if the bureaucrats can print money whenever they want in order to pay their bills, why can't I? At least I am not using anyone's tax dollars for the paper and ink. And, think of the job creation possibilities if I set up a factory. Such a ripple effect to boost the local economy. BUY LOCAL folks!Â
Apologies for the cynicism. I once knew a guy (before the digital/laser printer age), who knew a guy, that swore he could bleach out a $1 bill (same dimensions as a $20), apply some emulient, and photograph a $20 onto it.
As kids, we tried to bleach out a $1. It didn't work without dissolving the paper into tissue pulp.
Just to save the curious a few bucks on trial an error, I'd recommend another approach. And if your successful, please pass them off in some other town. I like the merchants in Eugene. Some of them are barely able to survive all the taxes, anti-business friendly bureaucrats, etc.Â